<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">I have an 86 F150 and I need to replace the ball joints but I can't remove the old ones, the problem I seem to be having is getting the slotted thing-a-majig off the top ball joint so the spindle will drop down to remove the top and then the bottom and put back together, any help would be greatly appreciated. Other than that I have moved the air box to the front of the engine compartment and it seems to have helped with performance and mileage, but I'm still on the first tank of gas but I have went 150 miles on 1/2 tank and thats way better than it was before so we will see.


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Here's a link that may help.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...rInfoPages.htm

I don't remember messing with the slotted thing to get it apart. It's just an eccentric piece they use for alignment purposes. I got the whole thing apart, and that came with it or it stayed in the axle arm, i can't remember. I was replacing the lower ball joint, so I did that and put it back together. I am thinking you only have to mess with that thing if you are going to replace the upper ball joint, and then you only mess with it after you get it apart.

 

Another write-up can be found here:

http://ford.off-road.com/ford/articl....jsp?id=198389

 

BFH
big hammer
just knock the old one out you wont hurt it
same with taking it out of the spindle
get the snap ring off and hit it

 

If this guy is talking about how to remove the balljoints from the knuckle, don't listen to him. You'll crack the knuckle before you pound it out. Never mind how you'll get the new one in.

 

Rent a ball joint press or buy one from harbor freight salvage.

 

articles and specs at top of page
look in steering
look up changing ball joints in an e-150
go down to item #12 and it willsay something silly about ford
and hammers and ball joint removal

 

It says: "Loosen the lower balljoint. The Ford Manual says this should be done by striking the lower axle near the lower balljoint."

This is for removing the knuckle with the balljoints in it out of the axle housing. When you said spindle above, I thought you meant knuckle - some people use the terms interchangeably. Then when you mentioned the snap ring, I really thought you were talking about pounding the lower ball joint out of the knuckle as it's held in by a snap ring.

Don't know how I missed that.

 

A ball joint press will be much easier than trying to hammer out a rusted in ball joint. The body of the ball joint is held in by an interference fit (Friction & compression of the steel) If your ball joints snap ring is difficult to remove, most likely, the ball joint will be hard to remove too. A press is much safer and will work better.

 

When you get that free rental press from Autozone or wherever, do yourself a favor. You will probably find the thing very dirty and abused. Take the time to clean it up and lubricate the threads with never-seez or some wheel bearing grease. It will take a lot less torque to press the parts out that way.

 

I've had plenty of those brain farts
tie rod ends, ball joints, any taper fit
type of connection where there is a heavy cast steel part,
A good hit from a 2# ball peen hammer and they are apart