Oh boy, ball joints!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Denver, CO
Oh boy, ball joints!
My back has been messed up so I took the excursion to Ford for an oil change. They came back after the multi point inspection with about $2000 worth of repairs I need to make. The biggest being ball joints on the passenger side.
So I came home and read the sticky on doing ball joints. I just don't know if I should tackle this job?
Few questions:
I know I should do upper and lower together, it would be dumb to get it torn down that far and not do both, but do I have to do both sides? Or can I just do the passenger side?
Are there any big surprises to watch out for?
My back shouldn't be an issue in a couple of weeks. I'm not a great shade tree but I can hold my own. I have installed a lift kit, done all my own brake jobs and stuff like that. Is it as bad as it looks in the write ups?
So I came home and read the sticky on doing ball joints. I just don't know if I should tackle this job?
Few questions:
I know I should do upper and lower together, it would be dumb to get it torn down that far and not do both, but do I have to do both sides? Or can I just do the passenger side?
Are there any big surprises to watch out for?
My back shouldn't be an issue in a couple of weeks. I'm not a great shade tree but I can hold my own. I have installed a lift kit, done all my own brake jobs and stuff like that. Is it as bad as it looks in the write ups?
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: Tennessee
What do you think made the ball joints fail in the first place. Do you run big offroad tires? If only one side is loose I would just do one side. I saw somewhere that you could add a zerk fitting to help extend the life of the ball joint.
Perry
Perry
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Denver, CO
Run stock tires on the Excursion. It just has 147,000 miles on it. I bought it with 67,000 and if they weren't done before I bought it they are the originals. I'm not positive but i think the Moog re-enginered ball joints have zerk fitting in them.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
I've done my own on both Excursions I've owned. From what I've seen, the online instructions are well thought out and complete. I didn't use them as I've done this task many times on different vehicles over the years. I think if you're proficient enough to do your lift kits, brakes, and other mods, you won't have a problem with b-joints. Take your time and replace necessary seals while you're in there. Print out the instructions if you need a reference at the truck.
Doing one side only shouldn't be a problem, however for peace-of-mind purposes, I'd do them both.
Doing one side only shouldn't be a problem, however for peace-of-mind purposes, I'd do them both.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Just do the ones that are bad. My upper one were good so I did the bottoms. Do one side if one side is bad, the other one isn't going anywhere an you can do it when it needs it. As a rule the top ones don't wear as much because the bulk of the action is at the bottom.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Lack of grease is what kills ball joints. A couple weeks ago I spent a few hours under my X fixing grease zerks just so I can grease everything. One was missing, one was inaccessible, and a couple were froze up and didn't take grease.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 128
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I installed ProSteers when I needed new ball joints. The quality is incredible. I wish I had the funds to do a Free-Spin kit at the same time.
When I installed my ball joints, I had a local shop press the joints in. They charged $40 and it was worth the extra bucks. I check into a ball joint press but most models I saw were either really expensive or looked like they would break if I used it.
When I installed my ball joints, I had a local shop press the joints in. They charged $40 and it was worth the extra bucks. I check into a ball joint press but most models I saw were either really expensive or looked like they would break if I used it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Denver, CO
Man those are pricey. They look nice and beefy though.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Denver, CO
Where do you live it might be worth the drive for that price!
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 4
Just do them all. Nothing suck more than have to tear everything apart 10k miles after rebuilding it.
I went with the dynatrac units, VERY expensive but VERY stout. I was doing the free-spin kit at the same time, so I already had everything torn down.
edit: you can rent/borrow a ball joint press from a local Oreilly's. You'll need the 4x4 press kit fittings along with the standard one they rent you.
I went with the dynatrac units, VERY expensive but VERY stout. I was doing the free-spin kit at the same time, so I already had everything torn down.
edit: you can rent/borrow a ball joint press from a local Oreilly's. You'll need the 4x4 press kit fittings along with the standard one they rent you.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Denver, CO
I used to work part time at Checker, now O'reillys. So I have some contacts at the local garages. At the local Midas one of the techs drives a Super Duty and quoted me $500 plus alignment. So now I need to decide if I tackle it myself or go with Midas.
I'm leaning towards do it myself, it will be one more skill in my tool bag.
I'm leaning towards do it myself, it will be one more skill in my tool bag.
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