When I go to all the trouble of removing the knuckle, I change all seals, orings, etc. while I'm in there.
my 2 cents
Yeah i never checked the date - my mistake
Let me ask, so every time you take your front axle shafts out you replace the $80 ford knuckle seal?
You have more money then I do then!
I have had my axles off in front quite a bit, once was for a shot needle bearing, another time for ball joints, another time for kicks and to see how things were doing
I changed my upper and lower ball joints today and have a question: is there a special tool that's made to fit in the slot in the ends of the joints? It's too big for a screwdriver to fit properly and it was a real pain to get the nut tight on the bottom joint. I ended up modifying a slag hammer to wedge in there and hold it.
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'03 7.3 ext. cab long bed XL, 6 speed, AFE stage II, MBRP 4" turbo back straight pipe, foil delete, Toyo A/T 325/60/18 on 18x10 Eagle Alloys with lift shackles on the way
I changed my upper and lower ball joints today and have a question: is there a special tool that's made to fit in the slot in the ends of the joints? It's too big for a screwdriver to fit properly and it was a real pain to get the nut tight on the bottom joint. I ended up modifying a slag hammer to wedge in there and hold it.
do u mean to hold the joint from spinning? I use a jack with a little pressure on the ball joint itself
do u mean to hold the joint from spinning? I use a jack with a little pressure on the ball joint itself
kenny
Yep and I tried the jack too but it still turned. I must have a had a really tight lock nut or something, I didn't think it should have been that big of a pain.
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'03 7.3 ext. cab long bed XL, 6 speed, AFE stage II, MBRP 4" turbo back straight pipe, foil delete, Toyo A/T 325/60/18 on 18x10 Eagle Alloys with lift shackles on the way
Let me ask, so every time you take your front axle shafts out you replace the $80 ford knuckle seal?
You have more money then I do then!
I have had my axles off in front quite a bit, once was for a shot needle bearing, another time for ball joints, another time for kicks and to see how things were doing
kenny
Nope .... everyone has more money than I do! lol
I've only had my axle shafts out one time ..... to do the ball joints. I don't remove them when I service the needle bearings. And, yes ... generally .. if I disturb a rubber seal while doing performing a service, I replace it.
If I were removing the axles often, I guess that would be different because of the cost of the large knuckle seals.
Still, if someone were replacing their ball joints, and thats the only time they would have the axles out, personally I would still recommend that they replace any seal they disturb while in there.
Its a practice I bring from machinery repair.
"$80 Ford Knuckle Seal" ?? You mean for a pair of seals, don't you? Even $40 each is high .... you need to find a better Ford dealer, or buy online, or buy it from NAPA. Both of my local Ford dealers really jack up the price, too .... I usually drive to a different one.
Yep and I tried the jack too but it still turned. I must have a had a really tight lock nut or something, I didn't think it should have been that big of a pain.
This seems like a luck of the draw type thing. Some have trouble with it and others dont.
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Trevor
01 F-350 CC 8ft bed SRW 7.3L a/t. 149k
PAA Member #7
I've only had my axle shafts out one time ..... to do the ball joints. I don't remove them when I service the needle bearings. And, yes ... generally .. if I disturb a rubber seal while doing performing a service, I replace it.
If I were removing the axles often, I guess that would be different because of the cost of the large knuckle seals.
Still, if someone were replacing their ball joints, and thats the only time they would have the axles out, personally I would still recommend that they replace any seal they disturb while in there.
Its a practice I bring from machinery repair.
"$80 Ford Knuckle Seal" ?? You mean for a pair of seals, don't you? Even $40 each is high .... you need to find a better Ford dealer, or buy online, or buy it from NAPA. Both of my local Ford dealers really jack up the price, too .... I usually drive to a different one.
when i bought those seals nobody had them, "FORD ONLY" now napa has them, heck ill replace them just for kicks once a year
Well, I got new ball joints on the right side. The Ford dealer in New Hampshire has agreed to pay for the job to replace the lower ball joint that they failed to tighten the nut on but they would not admit fault. While it was apart, I had them replace the upper one too and used MOOG ball joints. I have agreed to pay the difference.
Here's the breakdown
Labor 1 side $364.00
1 F81Z-3254-CB seal 46.00
1 BRS-84 seal 28.43
1 F81Z-4A322-AA seal 8.49
1 CQK8607T Ball Joint 119.95
1 CQK80026 Ball Joint 79.95
1 Hazmat Fee 2.50
1 shop supplies 36.40
Total 705.51
I will replace the other side myself when I get some time in the Fall.
Well, I got new ball joints on the right side. The Ford dealer in New Hampshire has agreed to pay for the job to replace the lower ball joint that they failed to tighten the nut on but they would not admit fault. While it was apart, I had them replace the upper one too and used MOOG ball joints. I have agreed to pay the difference.
Here's the breakdown
Labor 1 side $364.00
1 F81Z-3254-CB seal 46.00
1 BRS-84 seal 28.43
1 F81Z-4A322-AA seal 8.49
1 CQK8607T Ball Joint 119.95
1 CQK80026 Ball Joint 79.95
1 Hazmat Fee 2.50
1 shop supplies 36.40
Total 705.51
I will replace the other side myself when I get some time in the Fall.
Terry
not to sound like a tough guy but knowing what i know now i would have told that ford dealer to stick it in their ear and tell everybody i could never to go there again, instead, they got their money out of you.
Do the job on your own, if everything comes out nice, i would charge 500 bux to do it every time - and i use a torque wrench - ill bet the dealer does not
Thanks Racerguy,I did the passenger side yesterday.Dana 50,when you put the ball joints back in I think I should have done the upper first.Anyway where do I send the check? ........Scott
Just an update about the ball joint nut that was left loose on my truck by the dealer.
I just received a check for $700.16 for the replacement from the Ford dealer in New Hampshire. My total out of pocket was only the difference in cost between the Ford and Moog parts. This is about doing the right thing and they took care of it.
Just wanted to add another one to the list. I followed the instructions on this post and replaced all 4 ball joints the hub seals and all the o-rings. Also put new brake pads on while I had it apart. I used Napa ball joints. All other parts came from ford. Also replace the nipple for the vacume line for the ESOF, the others were rusted real bad. Total cost for parts 500.00. Took out and it drives great. Thanks for the great instructions.
Can you tell me where you got the vacuum line nipples? My Ford dealer doesn't know what I'm talking about.Thanks
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