I'm in your boat too (sans parts).  How much of the front end stuff can be
done by a simple handy man without the crummy homemade press?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Delanty" <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 11:33 PM
Subject: Control arm bushings (front end madness)

> Well, It looks like the upper ball joints on the westy
> are kind of in need, and also the upper control arm
> bushings aren't that great.
> One of the brake rotors doesn't look that good, and
> the left front shock is starting to leak.
>
> I guess it's front end time.
> So. I have about a zillion pounds of front end and brake
> parts from Bus Depot, and I'm sitting here staring at them
> and at the Bentley manual. Sigh... I hate front end work.
>
> So while I'm in there, I'm doing the whole shebang so I don't
> have to think about it again for awhile.
> Upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower control arm
> bushings, front shocks, front brake discs and wheel bearings.
>
> Yeow. I guess I need to dig my crummy old home made
> hydraulic press out of storage and fill it's leaky little
> 12 ton jack up with oil again...
>
> Does anyone have any helpful tips that ain't in Bentley for doing
> the control arm bushings or ball joints? Any particular "gotchas"
> I should watch out for?
> Is a little 10-12 ton press adequate for getting that lower control arm
> bushing in and out?
> Any special tools I should have on hand for the job (tools mere mortals
> can buy, not all that special VW silliness that the Bentley book lists)
>
> I guess since I'm doing the control arm bushings I probably need to
> have the camber readjusted afterwards, eh?
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
> '86Westy
>