Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Foxtrot
Seems like a lot of work to replace the boot yet not take the next step and replace a $15 part (Moog, URO is $7). Delivery Valve, et al are correct that a failure on a w123 or w126 is less likely to happen w/o a lot of warning. It's a lot of work to get to the point where you clean & re-boot. Just about the same amount of work to swap out the BJ. I've been known to squirt oil into a torn BJ boot on a squeaker to get it back to the shop, or use on the property (not driven on the road) for a few days till I got the part. I just wouldn't tear it down to just replace the boot. I'd swap out the BJ. Just my $00.02 worth.
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To reboot the lower ball joint on W123 involves removing the steering knuckle only. With the proper tool to separate the taper on the upper and lower ball joints will take me around 30 minutes to get the steering knuckle off. But to knock the old ball joint out and press in a new one makes the job much more difficult if you do not have the Mercedes press designed specifically for the W123 and have to improvise like I and many others on this forum have had to do.
Don't forget, this is a DIY forum, where improvising and ingenuity often gets the job done. Very few here is willing to spend $500 in factory tools to do a lower ball joint.