Lower front ball joint dust cover

Morning all. Rangey went in for its MOT today and failed on one of those annoying things that not so long ago used to be just an advisory.
'Offside lower front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt'.
Checking on rave and on here, a ball joint replacement looks a right pig of a job, what with presses and hub alignment tools!
Have had a quote of about £200 to replace the ball joint, which is a heck of a lot of money considering the real problem is a perished piece of rubber!!
I should add that the ball joint itself is fine, with no wear or play - its just the damn rubber boot.
I've seen that you can buy the rubber boot cover for about £5. My question is can it be fitted without removing the ball joint itself??
Anyone else had this problem and sorted it?

Yes just removing the swivel hub will enable boot replacement. Still a pig of a job.

Thanks wammers.
When you say 'still pig of a job', is that the hub removal and refitting? And I'm guessing that I'll need a special alignment tool when refitting the hub.

kevwill said:

Thanks wammers.
When you say 'still pig of a job', is that the hub removal and refitting? And I'm guessing that I'll need a special alignment tool when refitting the hub.

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No not unless you disturb the adjuster. But you may need a new axle oil seal, I would not do all that and use the old one. Removing the drive shaft may knacker it, unless you are VERY careful you can damage the new one refitting the shaft. Well greased up and care is needed. You will have to remove brake and disc. Remove hub. Remove driveshaft. Remove swivel hub. Then you can do boot. I have the same problem on mine N/S lower is duff. But i will change all the ball joints. Don't want to be doing all that work then a joint go down and have to do it all again. Make sure the ball joint is clean and free from rust. Any **** will be sealed in with new boot. If it's been open a long time it maybe on it's way home anyway.

Many thanks wammers. Good advice. I'll order a new set of ball joints anyway and an oil seal, as you say, may as well do it all at once when I'm in there. Cheers.

Can you nor get a cover that you just slip over and then glue the seam? they do this for other cars, it would be a lot easier to do it that way surly?? (not that I have ever used them)

Dopey said:

Can you nor get a cover that you just slip over and then glue the seam? they do this for other cars, it would be a lot easier to do it that way surly?? (not that I have ever used them)

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That could be done. It's known as bodging. May get you though an test, but not a lot of good if you ball joint is full of road salt and is rotting away merrily beneath it.