P38A Front swivel - by eye or by special tool alignment poll

OK, so I have searched this forum and others on the subject of using or not using special tool LRT-54-600 for setting up the front lower ball joint height following replacement of the joint.

Some have said they have set it up by eye and not had any leaks from the seal or handling instability issues..

Some have said the newer genuine LR seals are more compliant and therefore alignment with the special tool is less critical...

A lot of these threads are anything up to approaching a decade old.

So does anyone have any input of their experiences?

Some of you might have done it by eye years ago and still have no issues, some of you may have done it by eye last week and had a leak.. I want to hear from you and your experiences.

The problem is, many of the existing threads involve a "I am doing it by eye" followed by "It seems to have worked", but often the story of "A year on and there is oil all over my driveway" probably does not get posted..

Anyone have any input or even opinions?

Did my N/S last year used special tool. I made one. No leaks. Having it to far out won't only give you an oil leak it will knacker the splines in the diff and on the drive shaft.

Use the tool...will save you heartache in the end

wammers said:

Did my N/S last year used special tool. I made one. No leaks. Having it to far out won't only give you an oil leak it will knacker the splines in the diff and on the drive shaft.

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Now that is the kind of reply I like to see.. You made a special tool, you made one. )

Do you have some photos, drawings or a write up of how you made and used your alignment tool?

I was thinking that something could be made, I have access to a lathe, a mill and a very competent driver for these machines, do you have anything you would be happy to share rather than me reinvent the wheel?

Saint.V8 said:

Use the tool...will save you heartache in the end

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That is what my gut feeling has been over the last couple of weeks while I have been thinking about this..

Sarbirus said:

Now that is the kind of reply I like to see.. You made a special tool, you made one. )

Do you have some photos, drawings or a write up of how you made and used your alignment tool?

I was thinking that something could be made, I have access to a lathe, a mill and a very competent driver for these machines, do you have anything you would be happy to share rather than me reinvent the wheel?

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I posted a photo of it on a thread a while ago. It is a pretty basic job to make one.

wammers said:

I posted a photo of it on a thread a while ago. It is a pretty basic job to make one. View attachment 99424

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Oh what a lovely tool Tony.

Wammers... You are a true engineer.. "Oh here is one I made myself" very modest, looks like the original tool, I thought you had turned something up as a "It will do" measure!

Would you be prepared to take some measurements off of it?

tomcat59alan said:

Oh what a lovely tool Tony.

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Why thank you, but i don't generally get comments from men about my tool. Just from women. Most usual one is. "Oh it's like a penis but smaller".

Sarbirus said:

Wammers... You are a true engineer.. "Oh here is one I made myself" very modest, looks like the original tool, I thought you had turned something up as a "It will do" measure!

Would you be prepared to take some measurements off of it?

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Will have a look and give you the main dimensions, all the rest you can wing.

wammers said:

Why thank you, but i don't generally get comments from men about my tool. Just from women. Most usual one is. "Oh it's like a penis but smaller".

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I personally don't make comments about men's tool's but your's looks fit for purpose.

wammers said:

Why thank you, but i don't generally get comments from men about my tool. Just from women. Most usual one is. "Oh it's like a penis but smaller".

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Ooo-er missus!

A woman has never commented on my tools, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing really!

wammers said:

Will have a look and give you the main dimensions, all the rest you can wing.

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Do you want to rent your one out? Don't mind paying a rental and a sizable deposit

tomcat59alan said:

I personally don't make comments about men's tool's but your's looks fit for purpose.

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Does the job no problem. Tad snug on the axle locating end, needs sticking in the lathe and an emery rub. Will relieve it when i do the other side. Only alloy so not an everyday use industrial quality item, but i mean how often do you change the ball joints? Made it for summet to do. Think it cost about forty quid for material but i did have some items to hand.

Sarbirus said:

Do you want to rent your one out? Don't mind paying a rental and a sizable deposit

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Not really sorry, not trying to start a rental business.

wammers said:

Not really sorry, not trying to start a rental business.

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That's fair enough.. If you could post the dimensions when you can, that will be a massive help

Sarbirus said:

Ooo-er missus!

A woman has never commented on my tools, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing really!

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Have you ever shown them to any women? Wammers is known by most of the female population of Preston as "acorn dick", sort that out censor.

I've helped with/done about 5 sets of ball joint changes in the last couple of years (my own P38 included) and not used a tool - not had any leaks from them. There was a thread awhile ago on rangerovers.net about it (I read up a load about it before I even attempted mine!) and the general concensus was that if you were just changing the ball joints and didn't touch the taper collet on the swivel hub (the bit that sets the height of the knuckle/hub/driveshaft) then it should be fine - but if you are replacing the knuckle, or the taper collet then you need to set/check the alignment with the special tool.

That being said.... If you get the dimensions and end up being able to make them, then I would definitely be interested in buying one, as I would always prefer to have the right tool for the job and be able to check things properly when they are apart. But unfortunately my skills with metalwork and making things like that aren't my strong point - give me some wires, electrics and a soldering iron/multimeter and I'm a lot better at that!

tomcat59alan said:

Have you ever shown them to any women? Wammers is known by most of the female population of Preston as "acorn dick", sort that out censor.

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From tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow.

wammers said:

From tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow.

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Too true mate, as I always say "It's big enough to fill a pram".