Hey Fellas,
My 97 F250 4x4 has 110k miles & still on the original suspension & manual hubs.
I just put new tires on the truck so figure I better do the suspension at the same time I am doing the 2.5" levelling kit.

I checked under the truck & the tie rods boots are shot & play in the ball joints, I would also like to do the wheel bearings while I have the front hubs are apart.

Is there a site sponsor that sells these parts as a kit or do I need to piece meal the parts together?

I dont want to go with cheap garbage parts as this is pretty labour intensive & my first time doing this job so I would like to get all the parts required & hear from guys that have done the job & recommendations would be awesome.


updated:

I purchased from Amazon as it looked to have the best pricing.

K80026 Upper BJ
K8435 Lower BJ

Tie rod end parts
DS 1419
DS 1420
ES 3362L
ES 3363T
2X ES2012S

I am looking at a ball joint tool kit & the front hub socket (size???)
purchased from Ebay socket CTA Tools 4150


Appreciate the heads up.

Colin

 

Right on for Amazon. They seem to have the cheapest parts around.

You're about to catch a serious case of the "while I'm in there" syndrome.

I'd personally replace the ujoints while you're in there. Axle tube seals leaking diff fluid? Nows a good time to do them if they are.

As for advice it's pretty straight forward. Just expect the balljoints to be a mother to get out. I personally replaced my steering with custom DOM tubing and GM one ton tie rod ends. It's a million times stronger than factory, and was cheaper than the factory steering.

 

Great that your truck barely has 100,000 miles on it.

About the ball joint tool, most all parts houses will rent them for free. You have to put down a full price deposit but you get it all back when you return the tool. I also got a .pdf shop manual a long time ago on ebay for a reasonable price. It was a long time ago but they may still be available. Nice to have so that you don't have to guesstimate or use internet advice on things like wheel bearing adjustment.

 

I have used the ball joint tool from harbor freight with great results on other vehicles and for u joints. was only about 40 bucks

 

Thanxs for the reply fells,
I live in a small community on Vancouver Island ,BC Canada & I don't have a lot of options when it comes to parts stores or tool loan programs.

I buy my parts & ship to a USA address on the CDN/US border & the father inlaw picks up for me & ships to me, its a bit of a PITA but saves me big time on parts cost verses prices up here.

I went to the local parts store for prices yesterday,I get a very good discount on my parts there, believe it or not :-)
Even with the exchange I save about 50% on parts.
Example of price difference.
Moog lower BJ $63.66 CDN Amazon $25.95
Moog upper BJ $89.73 CDN Amazon $34.52

Our local Ford was over $1400 to replace ball joint & bearings, so that made the decision for me to do the job myself pretty easy :-)

I purchased a 21 piece ball joint kit for $70 of Ebay, its cheap & will pay for itself on the 1 swap.

I don't have any leaks but I will check the u-joints when I get the shafts out, thanks for the heads up on the Shop manual I will have a look for 1.

Thanxs for the help & advice.
cheers
Colin

 

1996 Bronco/F-Series Workshop Manual is free online manual

 

Thanxs for the link Knotty,

I have a Chilton's 1987~1996 Ford pickup & bronco repair manual, I prefer the link you sent tho as I can zoom in on the directions & pictures (old age) :-)

Appreciated
Colin

 

I finally got my parts delivered today & started to work on the front end.

F & R Shocks (Bilstein)
Leveling kit (short springs)
Axle pivot brackets (5 bolt)
tie rod ends
U &L ball joints

Of course a 20 year old truck is stubborn & things are a little tight to say the least.

My first powerstoke & 1st time doing the front suspension.

Thanxs for your help with my grocery list.
Colin

 

I got 1 side done today, getting the pin back into the axle was a major PITA.

Anyone know the torque specs for the U-bolts? (I googled & found a few different answers)
I torqued to 110 ft lbs as I honestly have no idea factory specs or if the bolts are grade 5 or 8??

Thanxs
Colin

 

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but tighten the snot out of them.

 

LOL,
Will do


edit,
http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/949...an/stjmain.htm
Thank to the link Knotty posted

Lower the vehicle and tighten the U-bolt nuts to 115-163 Nm (85-120 lb-ft).


Colin