Hey guys I'm going to be replacing all the ball joints on my diesel 99.5 f250 and I'm looking at buying this kit,
But what other parts would you recommend buying before I start?
Super Duty F250 F350 4x4 Complete Ball Joint Kit 1999 2004
Thanks
Oh I already have a pitman arm puller, ball joint press (C clamp), and pickle fork, the only tool I'm uncertain of is the "special" seal driver...

 

"the only tool I'm uncertain of is the "special" seal driver... "


You need it or let the Ford dealer press the seal on the axle shaft you carry in.

 

Thanks Jesse,
It's a good excuse to buy a new tool lol.
But I read the SD ball joint thread and a member just made a seal driver but the pic he had posted is gone now, anyone have a pic?
Or how it differs from a normal seal driver?
Thanks

 

Hardware store has a pipe that will fit over the stub shaft and an end cap that screws onto the pipe that is the perfect size for the seal. Drive the seal on flush while the shaft is chucked into a vise. The factory seal driver sets the depth in the knuckle but you will have to do it by lubing the receiving bore of the knuckle and getting the axle shaft started into the bore. Put the unit bearing into the knuckle and evenly and slowly draw the knuckle seal into the bore and the depth will be set when the four bolts are torqued to 166# I think. Don't forget to put the plastic washer in the right direction onto the stub shaft after the seal and before the bearing as this allows vacuum to enter for auto hub lock operation. The three washers that go on the other side of bearing on the shaft has the metal one in the center then lock ring is attached.

 

I used that kit on my 01 a few years ago. I bought a Harbor Freight ball joint press kit for $40-50 and had the dealer do the axle seals, but I heard it can be done with a piece of pipe as mentioned above. I think the seals were more expensive than I wanted to replace if I messed one up with a the pipe method.

 

Here is a step by step link for doing your ball joints. 3/4 of the way down they show you how to build your own seal driver.

2004 F250 Ball Joint Replacement

I was too lazy to grind the piece down as suggested in the link above so I made a piece out of wood to put in between the home made seal driver and the seal.




Tim M

 

Excellent!
Thanks guys!
Are there any other parts I should buy that aren't included in this kit?
(My u joints feel okay, but I'm considering changing them since I'm going to have it apart anyway...)

 

While you have the expensive knuckle seals off you might as well replace the axle u-joints and dust seals.