Popped into the local Citroen garage in between meetings today to enquire how much they’d charge to press some new ball joints into the wishbones if I dropped them in. The guy on the service desk seemed quite shocked that they could actually be taken off the car by someone other than one of the workshop mechanics and seemed convinced that I wouldn’t have the right parts to do the work. They were only prepared to do the job if I took the car in and wanted £220 including VAT for two and a half hours work. To be honest I think that’s a swindle, so the plan is to DIY it now.
I just need a ball joint splitter (from here) and a press. There seem to be a few options on the press side of things, but I really appreciate the concept of this Lotus tool, because it’s a neat bit of kit, but I’m not sure I really need it. The nice folks at the Lotus enthusiast club have done an illustrated guide which is a transferable process for the 106 even if the suspension is differently configured.
I think that a tool for removing and reinstalling the suspension bushes can probably be fabricated from some appropriated threaded rod and used of appropriate washers and nuts, in much the same way that you’d make a DIY headset press. Plenty of food for thought here…
Rallye Project 
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