Lower ball joints

[GAINMOB]

How difficult is it to change lower ball joints and are there any heavy duty ball joints on the market?

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3) National Member

 

[FordandPolaris]

Me and my old man did it in about 6 hours. We are going to do the ones in his 04 this summer. Main thing you will want is air tools (electric cordless might work too, not sure how their torque compares to air tools), it is hard to compress the ball into place with just hand tools and a ball joint compressor. An impact makes it much much easier. Otherwise I would say they are not too bad.

 

[Lightnig]

Good question Freeway

I will need to do this myself this summer once I can take the truck off the road for a couple weeks (other things to do with it too, not just BJ's...


Does anyone have a good write up or how-to on this handy?

 

[GAINMOB]

I don't but was quoted about $315 per side and was told more heavy duty ball joints that will have grease port will be used...if someone in the area knows how I'm willing to help and learn and pay a lil something for helping…


Holy Roller Christian Car Club (HRC3) National Member...

 

[FordandPolaris]

All aftermarket ball joints should have the zerk on them for greasing. Go with Moog brand, your truck probably sees different stresses being lowered. They are well known for being heavy duty, and personally that is what I used in my truck. I tried generic tie rod ends with Moog ball joints at first, and they were broken within a year, so I went with Moog tie rod ends at that point. They are worth the extra money. The lowers are like 50 or so apiece (atleast for the 1st gens), uppers are a lot more expensive because they include the entire arm. If I lived that way I would be happy to help you... This is the vid I used to do mine, obviously its on an older model but it is the same principal.

PART 1 How To Install Replace Lower Ball Joint 97-03 Ford F-150 Expedition 1AAuto.com - YouTube

 

[Brusky]

i got quoted about $500 to do both sides for lowers and started looking around the internet and found the mevotech ones with grease fittings from parts king for less than $30 shipped ( they look just like the moog's) rented the remover, press kit from advanced and took me about half a day by myself. ( i have pics of them completed in my albums) the hardest part was pulling off the cv joins (used larger ryobi 18v impact for the bolts that connect to differential ).
had my computer with the a1 auto video that was just posted, it will walk you right through it.

 

[FordandPolaris]

Glad to hear it was a successful fix. It would be wise to do the tie rod ends and upper ball joints as well, although it would be best to do those all at once since they will need an alignment done right after. Hate to have to get two alignments when you can get by with only one.

 

[GAINMOB]

i have to find out if the shop has everything needed...should