Top wishbone/ball joint changing... anything I need to know?

[pupp]

Before diving in

[oggs]

Mind ya knuckles

[pupp]

Just done a couple of searches on this and found a reference to compressing the suspension spring in situ before undoing anything. Why would I need to do that?

If the weight of the car is supported and the suspension is at full extension with the wheel off, the spring is fully extended within damper limits anyway. Isn't it?

And, whilst I'm bothering you all, if I measure relative positions of ball joint faces etc, do I stand a cat in hell's chance of preserving geometery. I'm reassured that the two replacement wishbones seem like faithful mirrors of each other so hope there is some precision in there somewhere

[chassis 33]

When changing suspension components, it's always worth checking the geometry aftewards. The chances are you wont be able to put on lots of negative camber becasue the ball joints will foul with the wishbone. Apparently the ball joint design ws changed at some point and cases the clash.

Regards
Iain