Problems, problems... drastic problems

Have fitted in to pace my new gearbox ('88 4x4) but now have the problem of re connecting the ball joints. Every time I jack the hubs to compress the suspension to align the relevant connection the drive shafts splay and the jack gives way.
I may have split the wrong joints, which ones are the correct one to do?
I have split the one at the end of the tracking arm (the tie rod connects about three quarters of the way down)
Does anybody know the best way of rejoining these two components together (the bolt on the underside of the hub mounting and the eye on the end of the tracking arm)

Also, where does the vacuum tube connect to thats mounted at one end to the distributer unit?

Any help at all would be great as I'm tired, grimy and wet, and so is Panda.

erm not sure of the best way of getting the ball joints back together one thing I've never pulled to bits on a panda, can be b**tard on other cars I've done tho. perseverance more than anything i think. Nitrowarrior may be able to help seen as the front of his panda is in bits at the mo.

As for the vacuum pipe goes, it goes to the manifold just below the base of the carb. should be two small outlets on the manifold next to each other one is for the dizzy advance/retard unit the other goes to the cam case breather pipe via a small pipe.

If it's what I think you mean undo the bolt at the end of the rod that goes to the front of the car, But not completely so it's flexible and easier to fit. If you don't understand what I mean post a pic of the bits you are trying to fit because that part of the process is normally quite easy. If one of the ball joints is spinning when you try to tighten it up tap it down with a hammer first.

All the joints are shown in the bearing replacement guide so maybe you can tell me from the pics what ones you are having the problems with. http://www.fiatforum.com/panda-guide...ent-gars3.html

Alan, In the forth photo down it shows somebody undoing a joint, the joint I undid however (and cannot get back together) is the one to the right of that. I can get it within an inch but cannot think of a way of compressing the suspension without the drives shafts splaying out and collapsing the jack.

That's the main link arm ball joint directly under the hub.

OK as I said undo the bolt at the end of the rod and loosten the bolt that is being undone in that pic, If necessary remove the Link arm bolt that fixes to the body as I normally put that one on last. I'll PM my mobile as it may be easier to describe than type....

I've just changed the lower ball joint & track control arm on my 4x4. I ended up locating the ball joint into the track control arm, then locationg the tie rod to track control arm bolt (& its little metal retaining bracket thing), leave these bolts loose, then finally push the inner end of the track control arm into place, using a srewdriver to help lever it into place & align the pivot bolt holes. Slide the pivot bolt into place, and finally go round & tighten all the other bolts.......that all sounded soooo easy did'nt it, but it did work.

As a tip, when renewing the lower ball joint, you dont have to buy the complete hub carrier pressing complete with ball joint. I bought the ball joint from Euro Car Parts for about £7. Popped round to local friendly garage & he belted the old joint out & used hydraulic press to push the new one in. Job done. Seen a complete ball joint/carrier on ebay for £65!

Well Brother, how did you get on?