Tom,
 The upper ball joints replace is less than an hour, once you have the uppers off you can easily determine if the lowers need to be replaced. The lower ball joints are much more difficult to replace, and require special tools. I changed the upper's on my 85 Westy at 210k miles, and left the original lowers in place. They had no play in them the rubber boots were in tact and had lots of grease. So far no ill affects.

Joe B.
Vashon WA
85 Westy 214k Original Heads

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From:  Thomas D. Hanlon [SMTP:hanran.inc@INTERNETMCI.COM]
Sent:  Thursday, September 17, 1998 10:44 AM
To:  Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Subject:  Ball Joints Replacement Question

Listees,

I've been advised to replace the upper ball joints which are worn,
according to the man who declined to align the front of my 84 Westfalia
because he said that there was "considerable" play in the suspension
caused by the worn bj.

Is is advisable to replace all ball joints, upper and lower, in the
process?  Are they interrelated? Are there other components in the front
suspension which should be reviewed closely while we're in the process?

I seem to get my best advice and counsel on my Vanagon from members of
the list.

We're decompressing from a 9, 121-mile, 47-days on the road journey.
Correct: nine thouand, plus, miles and seven weeks.  I'll post a trip
and mechanical incidents report later in the week.

Tom Hanlon
Palm Springs, CA
84 Westy @ 176,000 on odometer