For a complete pictorial solution to your question, check out

http://www.relitech.com/tomc/tomvw.htm

This man did a first class job of documenting his solution to your EXACT
question.

Cheers!

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Shea <shea@GTSDESIGN.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: ball joint replacement

>On Thu, 18 Feb 1999, Henning, Eric wrote:
>> Having troubles searching the archives (seems only a week by week search
>> works) for the hints/cheats/recommendations for doing an upper ball joint
>> replacement on a 80 westy.  Anybody have something written up?
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> eric.henning@bailey.com
>
>Eric -- I don't have anything written up, but I can tell you from
>experience that it's a pretty easy job.  I followed the Bentley
>instructions, but it's been long enough since I did it that I can't
>remember much more than that.
>
>I don't know if one needs to undo the steering ball joint or remove
>the ball joint adapter with the ball joint attached, but I did
>since my goal was to replace as many of the ball joints as I could.
>In the process I twisted off one of the ball joint adapter bolts...
>uggh.  I also recall using a hammer-impact screwdriver to remove the
>sheet metal disc shield.  Also make sure you have the right tools
>for getting the damnable bolt off that holds on the caliper hose
>bracket.... that was a bit annoying.
>
>I got a nice little tool (not a pickle
>fork) to press out the tierod ball joint from Pep Boys, what a deal,
>they have a sort of free rental plan where you give 'em the purchase
>price, they hand over the tool, use it, bring it back in 30 days more
>or less intact and they give you your money back.
>
>        Gary
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Shea                                       shea@xmission.com
>Salt Lake City                      http://www.xmission.com/~shea
>