Salvage to saved

[busboytom]

Latest post of the previous page:

I'd gather many of you do this stuff in your sleep but for me much of this is first time /learning kind of stuff. My point is I thank you all for sharing tips, pointers, experiences and encouragement here and elsewhere.
CV's are locked and loaded. Ball joints and tie rods?

[Amskeptic]

I'd gather many of you do this stuff in your sleep but for me much of this is first time /learning kind of stuff. My point is I thank you all for sharing tips, pointers, experiences and encouragement here and elsewhere.
CV's are locked and loaded. Ball joints and tie rods?

Only if necessary. You LIKE slightly loose steering, not from poor adjustments or worn center pin bushings, but low friction ball joints and tie rod joints. Then you have easy return-to-center which makes windy days half as stressful.
Colin

[busboytom]

Oh, it's necessary. All 4 are split wide for all the gooey goodness the escape. But we did manage a short trip to town for some fresh petrol. Got the attention of the dude behind the counter who controls the pumps..."pump 15, you have an awesome van" The local Constable also
wanted a word with us as our cardboard rear window display warranted closer inspection. I flashed the title as he pulled along side...."cool ride, man....yeah, you're good". She'll be sporting blue collector plates shortly.

[Amskeptic]

Oh, it's necessary. All 4 are split wide

I get that the boots are split. So replace them. But keep the ball joints if they have less than .020" play.
Colin

[asiab3]

Those look like the factory early early bay joints with holes for M6 zerk fittings ready to go! The joints themselves are likely fine if they are original; this bus didn't seem to be too worn out anywhere except for the window seals and lichen on the paint…

Just did two buses worth of ball joint boots this morning before lunch… Start hitting the joint nuts and base of the boots with PB'laster NOW if you plan on tackling the boots this fall; It turns a grueling job into a slightly dirty puzzle.

Robbie

[skip]

I may have to do this next year so what is a good brand / product of replacement ball joint boots?
This task will be on 2019 to do list..Colin let's plan for a whole day in the urban utopia that you despise.

[busboytom]

Sweet baby Jesus....50 yr old ball joints ready for another go around. Already tapped..did not know they did this back then. Removed new boots from new joints (my mistake in rushing to replace what was there) and installed boots on old, very nice joints.

[asiab3]

Yeehaww glad you have that "coated aspirin" for the pain of having beautifully easy steering… :)

Robbie

[Amskeptic]

Sweet baby Jesus....50 yr old ball joints ready for another go around. Already tapped..did not know they did this back then. Removed new boots from new joints (my mistake in rushing to replace what was there) and installed boots on old, very nice joints.

Well Tom, you sure do wade in and git er dun. How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?
Colin

[busboytom]

How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?

Actually reused the old ones....way more flexible and much easier to push into place. New retainer wires will work well on key rings

[Amskeptic]

How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?

Actually reused the old ones....way more flexible and much easier to push into place. New retainer wires will work well on key rings

That's what I did too .... using the nifty spring retainer special tool that only works on tie rods and drag links.