Ball joint boots, tracking.

I have to change two ball joint boots, a top one one side, bottom the other, couple of questions I have searched but can't find a definitive answer to. If I mark the camber nut will I get away without tracking it. also will I have to take the bottom ball joint off the side Im doing the top one, in which case I may as well order three boots as Im bound to damage the top one getting it off.
Cheers

 

they are egg shaped and have a little mark on them dave, when i undid mine and changed the boots i made sure i put them back as they were and all seems ok, i do however need to chage a ball joint but i'm going to get the exchange arm with one fitted as i can't press 20 tons!

 

I am lucky to have access to a 50T press, the ball joints are fine, these MOT changes get on me wick, I would prefer to wait till the joints were shot and change them, I do so few miles they would last ages.
Did you have to take the bottom one off the knuckle to change the top one?

 

yeah had to undo both if i recall

 

Bugger

 

From memory you dont have to undo them both just the one you need to change the boot on
One will pop out with a glancing blow from a hammer the other needs a heavy duty splitter
A large pickle fork splitter is ok if your going to change the boot anyway

 

You have to take them both off to get either free of the knuckle and you may find the adjuster is a pig to get off the ball joint...
Marking it or noting where the mark on the adjuster is should work. I have the guages to set tracking and camber, so I assume it was wrong before I started (they often are) and start afresh.

 

Can you not use a jack between the arms to gain the space to remove just one?

 

If you must. Not sure how you'd jack top to get at bottoms, but it would save taking off the ARB and shocks to do top ones. Mind your fingers.

 

Yeah scissor jacks and blocks of wood isnt the most elf n safety but need must and all that