Hey guys. I have a 1998 F150 2wd with a 3inch trailmaster lift. I have a popping noise coming from the right upper ball joint (i think). I took the truck into the shop and had the alignment done, but the mechanic came back and said that the upper ball joint couldnt be tightened anymore and was allowing play in the spindle, which is causing the popping. I have searched everywhere for a new ball joint for this lift. The problem is that trailmaster doesnt have a replacement part number for the upper ball joints. They told me to take it to a parts shop an have them look to try and match it up, but I dont have much confidence in my local shops.
The mechanic also said that the spindle would need to be replaced because over the last year that this ball joint has been loose has worn out the hole where the ball joint slides into. I am not to worried about finding a new spindle. I think I saw one on ebay for $45. I am just worried about the upper ball joint. It isnt the pressable joints like the oem, but it is a bolt in type.
i think you could take it to Auto Zone or NAPA and they could match it up. i also think Trailmaster is a piss poor company if they sell a lift kit and cant tell you where they got the ball joint for it!!!
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2001 SuperCrew 4 x 4 5.4 XLT - 172,000 miles
2002 Explorer 4 x 4 4.0 XLT - 105,000 miles
Ball joints do NOT get tightened to take play out of them. The are NON-ADJUSTABLE. You need a new mechanic. This is unless your ball joints were not installed properly in the first place. The tapered stud on the BALL side of the ball joint must be torqued down properly during installation. If it wasn't that's not the fault of the ball joint, but that of the installer. Go back to them and complain.
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