A6 Front suspension joints

[targarama]

Another front suspension topic.

My 1997 A6 is booked in for it's MOT tomorrow. I think it's going to fail on the upper and lower front joints. This is a common fault on A4s and A6s (Passats too I think - same car anyway). I had some joints replaced about 3 years ago, it looks like the rest are knacked now.

Since today I just spent £400 at AMD on a service/rear brakes and some other bits I'm thinking of replacing the front joints myself. I found a complete front joint kit from vagparts.co.uk for just over £400 delivered. It comes with all the nuts and bolts I need apparently. Looks a good deal considering the number of joints involved.

Apart from a ball joint splitter, crow bar and all the usual sockets and hammers will I need any special tools? I'm OK with a spanner, but veer away from most hi-tech fiddling. However, ball joints can only be so complicated shirley?

Apart from getting my tracking reset afterwards is there anyone out there who has any other hints on special tools I might need etc?

Thanks.

[targarama]

Forget this - it didn't fail the MOT on suspension so I'm leaving it until next year

But it did fail on a leaking brake union that was replaced by a specialist in Oxfordshire yesterday. Great. Another half day off work to get it fixed.