E type upper ball joint rebuild... anyone done one

[1cobra1]

I am planning to rebuild the upper ball joints on a series II XK-E. I am a skilled wrench but like so many things there is a first time for everything...

I guess I'm hoping someone elses insite to what not to do would be appreciated. It looks like they are a compression assembly. possibly secured by an inside locking ring with the top plate, spring, assorted shims, springs, cup and seals followed by the ball and then held in place by the clip followed by the rubber seal and a clip holding on the seal...

My question is where to start. I think I can do the operation with the upper control arm still on the car. (?)

Second, it looks like I need to compress the pin/ball slightly to ease tension on the inside locking ring... (is this true?) Snap out the locking ring and remove the assorted parts, replacing them in order with new ones, grease well and that should be it... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Anything else???

Thanks in advance,

Michael Strunk

 

[MikeP]

If I recall correctly there's a certain amount of preload that the ball pin should have, so you'll need to assemble and take apart multiple times. The only time I've done it I had the arms off the car already. I don't think I'd want to try with them still mounted since clamping the assembly together to insert the circlip while holding it steady, and being kinda down low to the floor would be awful awkward.