98 xlt 4.6 ball joints wrong or right?

[Chanash]

Hi. Long time listener, first time caller! My 98 xlt 4.6 has 307k+ miles on it. Got tie rods replaced (inner+outer) recently. The shop that did the tie rods couldn't align perfectly. So i took it to firestone for alignment. Firestone said Both upper control arms and ball joints and both lower ball joints needed replaced. Showed me the play in the wheels etc. Said it won't align with replacing etc etc. No surprise, i don't think much maintenance was done on it before i got it a few years ago, cus I've been replacing parts left and right on it since I've had it. They replace all those with the proper moog parts. Drive home, get up to 60-65, i start getting the balance/alignment-shimmy, just slightly. I txt one of the firestone guys, he says, we told you it needed 3 new tires (i refused 3 brand new tires, i normal buy good used for 1/4 the price) so it's probably tires/balance. Ok makes sense. Took it yesterday to get front passenger replaced (fr dr is fine with plenty of tread left). Tire guys (not firestone) say, omg your ball joints are sticking up too high, these are gonna fail and you'll be lucky you survive that wreck if on the interstate.
So. I'm mechanically inclined and knowledgeable enough to do alot under the hood, but i know nothing about suspension.
Firestone says, no, most vehicle fit with the clip snug down to the control arm but expys sit up taller. Its weird but it tight and snug and not going anywhere. Not a safety issue, normal for this vehicle.
So. Is this normal. Or am i gonna die?

 

[Killer Ride]

No that is wrong they did not use the proper install tool! You need an additional install kit for Ford ball joints! So Firestone guys are wrong, used tire guy is right. I do my own work and you can go to Oreillys and do the loaner tool thing but you need 2 kits or you cannot install correctly. Been there, done that. It is basically a sleeve that allows the BJ to be pushed farther down.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Chanash]

Ok. Thank you for the quick response. Follow up questions:
1. Since we live out of town, interstate is our normal route, but not our only route, to civilisation where firestone is (12 mo warranty on parts and labor for this job). Is it unsafe for me to take the interstate with the ball joints as the currently are?
2. I anticipate them arguing with me on this (for several reasons, including mainly because I'm a female and here in the Midwest apparently we're still dumb enough to not know anything about cars and mechanics), continuing to claim that its fine and safe. What do i have to do to get them to make this right? I was considering taking it to a Ford dealership and having their service write it up and take that with me to firestone.

 

[Killer Ride]

It should be ok as it is captured in there as long as you are not traveling too far.
The Ford dealer idea is good or perhaps another Firestone dealer if first one doesn't honor the job.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Killer Ride]

Also I want to be clear if you want to drive it as is.... the weight of the vehicle is actually pushing up,however the balljoint could actually come loose and it would be hard to steer. In any case I would refrain from going through alot of turns.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Chanash]

Ok thank you very much!

 

[ats666]

Everything is as it should be!
The ball joints get fully pressed into the arm, the clip is only there as a back up so the BJ can't fall out if it loosens up in the arm.

 

[Chanash]

Ok so i took it to Ford to have them take a look. Between 4-5 mechanics there, they even went back and forth on this. 1 said after market bj must have been made taller and definately needs changed to factory parts. Another said it looks odd but it's fit tight and not going anywhere. Finally got their senior mechanic out to look at it. He said at first glance it looks odd, but brought up a factory ball joint and said it's the same size and fit of the moog parts, and it's tight and not going anywhere, and that this is how he would have installed the factory bj. Said, not gonna die, and if it starts to fail that I'll know it by hearing it long before it causes a loss of control, but he doesn't anticipate that either.

 

[rjdelp7]

Years ago I got burned by autozone, for a Saturn(winter car) ball joint. It would not tighten in the knuckle. Turns out they sold me the wrong part. It looked close to original, but was wrong. The old one was so rusted, couldn't be put back on. I had to drive it a few miles clunking, to a friends shop. He installed the correct one for $60(should of went there first). On the bright side, the part store did refund me my $17. I would bet money those clowns "installed" the incorrect part.