If the ball joints are worn enough to be noisy, they need to be replaced
last month. A separated ball joint is not pretty sight, especially a
lower one.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jack Jordan
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 12:14 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Ball joint/shocks questions

While I know a bit about auto mechanics, the details are something else.
I
have an '85 Westy currently in the shop for a variety of things, among
them
a loud banging noise coming from the right front. This morning the owner
of
the shop told me it had been checked out, and that the lower right ball
joint was slightly worn and the shocks were cheap, very stiff Monroe's.
My
questios are: 1.) Is the ball joint safe to drrive on for a while or
should
I have it replaced, and 2.) should I replace the shocks, and if so, what
with? Thanks for the help.