Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I had to replace my Tie rod ends as well as lower ball joint on my Gen 2.

What a mission! I don't know if I missed something but this took a lot longer than I thought. The ball joint fits into the suspension arm where it is bolted with four bolts. Firstly I as usual struggled to remove the ball joint from wheel hub and then found that even with the upper ball joint loosened I still could not remove it. In the end I had to remove the CV and pull off the whole brake and wheel assembly. The issue is where the ball joint fits into the suspension arm. I was throwing spanners and cursing the designers at this point. Swambo sweetly came to ask if she could help but after my growl knew that it is best to rather clear the area. The ball joint cannot be pulled straight out of the arm but have to be removed at an acute angle. Same goes for fitting. I did not have anyone helping and this made it worst when attempting the fitting of the new part. It's like you have to have the one end fitted before attempting the other end and both ways was a challenge with the angle at which the A side have to go into the arm. I prayed for mercy and finally managed to get both in. The bad news is that I still have to do the other side.

Short of this long story is to ask if there is another way that I don't know about.

Some photos of my labour

BS!

Without photographs, there is no proof that it ever happened!

Hey, you posted pics after I posted!!!

Cobvs wrote:Some photos of my labour

Your battles are your punishment for using a "Free State Micrometer" !

Those are "inappropriate tools" in any decent workshop!

Mmmmm Free State Micrometer - alias shifting ... did not have another 14 spanner to remove the CV from the side shaft. Its also useful as a persuader ...

like the gif

I did the same about 3 weeks ago and from memory the process that I followed was:
- Remove brake calliper
- Remove stabilizer bar
- Remove tie rod end
- Remove torsion bar (this takes the load of the control arm which makes the job much easier)
- Remove hub assembly
- Remove upper ball joint
- Remove lower ball joint. At this point I removed the entire steering knuckle, the CV was however still attached to the diff.

Hope this helps. Be glad that you are not trying to replace the lower control arm bushes. I replaced the front bush on both control arms, and believe me putting that lower control arm back without assistance is no fun. The rest of the work should not be too difficult to do on your own.

As they say in the classics "haal diep asem" The experience gained in the first one would help a lot in the second one purely because you have found a few ways not to do it. What has helped me a lot in replacing all the bits and pieces is to loop a length of chain around the top ball joint assembly and the trolley jack. This helps to keep the jack from lifting the vehicle when replacing the hub unit

Thanx froos and Hbannik. I will attempt the second one only when I've have managed to regain inner peace again or can call on a friend. The Colt 3.0 V6 is a bit easier as you are able to swing it out from underneath the control arm. The Pajero design is problably more secure with a small extention that also has to fit into an opening on the side, always something to be thankful for!

Hi,
Can someone point me to source control arm bushings (rubber or poly) for 1993 Gen 2 LWB?

I have asked the mains dealer but they surprised me by saying "not available".

I may need to buy new lower ball joints also, not sure yet. Is there a quick way of checking for wear?

The other option is to have the bushing made up at my local suspension shop (PE Wheeltech)

Earlier this year I got stuck in at home and replaced the tie rod ends plus had the upper ball joints reconded with silicon as I could not find replacements. Also had new bushes put in the idler arm swing. I also had a CV shop put on new cv boots.

take them off and take to your local midas/autozone to marry them up. I'm sure they will find some that will do the job.