I'm replacing the ball joints on my 03 Disco. I can not disconnect the steering knuckle from the lower ball joint...it appears from the Rave that there is a tension collet in the steering knuckle that has to be removed to take it apart? How do I get this loose? I have had no luck so far.

Thanks for your advice.

 

got a late start tonight. yanked my diffs out, then i started on the ball joints (not tie rod ends... thanks lr, for your terminology) anyway .. I broke both tops loose (no problem with my retard strength) now for the lowers. I raved, and can not figure out if I need to remove these (tensioner collets) before I pop the lowers. they are 32mm ish and I only have an open end in that size. so can I go ahead and push them through? or do I need to stop in the morning and get a legit box end to remove them first? I can not seem to locate replacement collets, so I did not want to go dolomite, without a breakage solution. I have already converted the majority of my block threads over to sae, like hot butter.
doubt you guys will respond, since you didn't respond to this op 3yrs ago, but I am trying anyway.
thanks,,,,,,,,,,,maybe

 

So confused, which ball joints are you talking about? Are you fitting the new drag link and track rod? Or are you replacing the upper and lower ball joints in the steering knuckle?

 

steering knuckle ones.. the track and drag were a cinch, thank you. did em with my teeth while playing catch with my girls. the knuckles have the stupid collet thingy, on the bottom. you guys sell them? if so ..... i will remove and not worry with breaking it in half.

 

oh, and i just read my post.....i made it even more confusing than the land rover dictionary. sorry. it was a poorly directed stab at the 6..... not 4 ball joints. but I am, in fact referring to the ball joints and not the tie rod end/ball joints/squishies.

 

Nnoooooooo dont take those out! Dont touch them! If you cant align them perfectly you will ruin your seals and wear down parts prematurely!

You just need to keep hitting it,

I used a ball joint fork to get tension on it and a 10lb hammer to get some leverage.

Don't touch those nuts on the bottom of the knuckles!!!!

 

got it... keep my hands off the nuts.
thank you. very good to know that I can leave them. I was afraid that they might strip or split, in halves. and meh, 10lb hammer is for women and children. it headbutt and pull with my teeth. DOLOMITE!

 

Ya my friend that works for land rover warned me about them. Aligning them is impossible without the right LR patented tool.

It ultimately just keeps the steering knuckle and the axle in a straight line so the axle shaft isn't off center.

It took me a lot of work to do my ball joints a few months ago. Making the steps to get them out is a pain. Land rover has another patented tool for doing it but its like $2000 . I spent a few hours making custom cups last time i did it. Good luck.

 

And there tool practically requires you to remove the axle from the truck.

Also FYI land rover is looking for engineers to design tools that don't suck. Apply today.

 

yep, saw those pricey lrts. I yanked all my axles out for other work and figured it would be a good time for ball joints.... glutton for punishment. I made some little c clamp tools that should work fine.