I could have worded that differently:

"it would be my preference to press in the lower ball joints or have
them pressed in."

I know the part is very tough but on my '81, the bellows on a new
lower ball joint failed WAY early. Poor quality rubber? Mechanic
pinched or otherwise damaged the rubber while using his BFH method?
When I asked how the part would be installed, he showed me the really
well used chunks of pipe he'd use. They looked like they'd been beat
on real good!

Neil.

On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 10:16 AM, Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> wrote:
> At  1/9/2013 10:52 AM, neil n wrote:
>
>
>> Lower ball joint requires access to a proper press or dedicated type
>> of tool. Check archives. IIRC, Paul Guzyk posted a link to images/text
>> of how he did. I sent mine to shop. Irony: he used a BFH and pieces of
>> pipe. Find a place with a proper press.
>
>
>
> I worked at a front end shop for 5 years and did hundreds of lower ball
> joints (none of them Vanagon) with a bench vice, 5lb hammer, assorted drifts
> & sockets. This was a long time established mom-n-pop shop & in all the
> years there was never a problem with this "press".
>
>
>
>
> Rob
> vwrobb@gmail.com

--
Neil n

65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp

'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines