MK2 Jaguar bottom suspension joint replacement

[Mart1961]

Hi guys, I have two problems that I hope someone can help me with. My first problem is I have been trying to replace the original bottom suspension ball joint in my 1964 MK2 with the sealed for life modern equivalent. I have removed the original joint and the collar that the original rubber dust cover was attached to, I have tried to bolt the new joint in place but the bolt holes in the new joint doesn’t quite line up with the threaded holes in the hub carrier. If I use the original longer bolts I can get them to to thread into the hub carrier but as I tighten them up the ball joint will go up so far and then jam. I have tried drilling out the holes in the new ball joint by half a mm, the joint fits better but won’t go fulling into the hub.
My next question is, does anybody know how to remove the old fibre/plastic dish that is fitted into the old ball joint dish as mine won’t come out. I have tried to prise it out but only little bits break off, I don’t want to be to heavy handed with it in fear of damaging the aluminium. I wondering if it is glued in as it won’t budge, I did think of burning it out but wasn’t sure.
Any advice on any of above would be gratefully appropriated.
Many thanks

[mike020150]

This sounds like an odd query. The sealed for life replacement should be a straight, albeit a tight, swap after you have removed the steel collar holding the original rubber boot in place. Is it possible the new rubber boot clip is jamming in the suspension upright hole as you tighten the bolts? If so, refit the clip after fitting the joint. Similarly, the old ball joint liner material is usually only pressed into position in the lower cup. If you are not using replacement parts from a recognised and trusted supplier, the accuracy of unbranded copy parts may not be all they claim to be. Mike.

[Mart1961]

Hi Mike, thanks for your reply. I used a blow lamp to heat the fibre/plastic dish up in the original ball joint housing, and after a bit of a tap it came out. I tried all different way to get the new sealed for life lower suspension ball joint to fit which also included drilling the bolts out to make them slightly bigger, but no joy. did purchase the joints some time ago so I couldn’t return them. Perhaps they were from a faulty batch, who knows. I decided to fit a new ball joint kit from David Manners Which allowed me to use the original ball joint bottom housing. All is now well. I now have another problem regarding the car won’t run unless on full choke that I will post.