Ball Joint Question
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Vicksburg, MS
My '04 2wd had the right lower ball joint replaced at 27,000. At 64,000 I replaced both of them with #K80149 Moog ball joints. I drove mostly highway miles. They had plenty of wear on them for some odd reason. I recently replace the lower left C/Arm, strut assemblies, and both Upper arms at 101,000. Moog make the upper C/Arm with a replaceable ball joint. The original lowers are made by TRW and can be replaced with a Moog or Motorcraft joint. Removing them can be a PITA if the aluminum corrodes around the Joint. Use loctite to hold the new one in place. The Motorcraft kit comes with all you need.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 278
Likes: 1
From: Bethlehem, PA
I have 40,000 miles on my '05 and they were shot to the point the noise was unbearable. I was told it was because of my 2.5" leveling kit, But guys with no kits have the same problems with the same mileage. I replaced them with greasable ones from "ROCK AUTO".com and switched to Amsoil's synthetic ball joint grease. I'll let you know in another 40k.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: NY (not the city!!)
Well it turns out that both upper ball joints are shot. They are really shot, I couldn't believe it when they showed me the play. The bottom ones are fine. At first glance it appears replacing the upper control arm/ball joints is pretty simple. I want to save the labor money and will be replacing the front pads and rotors too. Does anyone have some tips or info on this? This is my first time attempting something like this by myself and it still seems a little itimidating. Thanks.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,513
Likes: 394
From: W. Central FL.
If ball joints are worn out in less than 40K miles Ford needs to find a new supplier of ball joints. Sorry, but I've been driving Ford trucks since my first new one in 1965 and I've yet to have front end wear problems on any of them. They finally learned how to align the twin I beam on my '65. My '07 has 34K miles on it. Does this mean I need to check my ball joints?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: NY (not the city!!)
It wouldn't hurt to check them. The roads I drive on are really, really rough and they salt the roads like it's going out of style. Regardless, they should last longer...but they didn't, so I have to change them. Good bad or otherwise. Im not mad. I'll just buy the best ones I can, maybe greaseable and hopefully learn how to do something new on my truck.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Vicksburg, MS
Replace them with Moog and you can grease them. they are also made to have a replaceable joint for any future repair. You will have to remove the strut assemblies to get the bolts out of the upper control arms. You can remove the struts and take a measurement from the position that the outer part of the C/Arm rest at before you loosen the bushing bolts. The bushings could be tightened after you put the load back on them if needed . There is no use to loosen the lower C/arm adjustment bolts to get the struts out. You can pry the down to get the struts out and back in.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Blades,DE
Just had my lower ball joints replaced @ 80,000 miles. Had them do the shocks while they had them apart. I was having uneven wear on my tires.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa
i dont know about the f150, but my last truck before i traded in for my 2004 f150 ext cab 4x4 was a 2005 f350 diesel, and it had 180,000 miles on the original ball joints till i had to replace them, but then again it was a superduty. so far my 2004 f150 has 160,000 miles in it, with original ball joints and they are fine. factory joints. so.... i guess the question really depends!
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: NY (not the city!!)
I wonder if there was a bad batch or something. I ended up have a local shop replace them, the weather wasnt cooperating and I wanted it done ASAP. Gotta do it my driveway. They are a great place and even replaced them with Moog greaseable ones. The truck drives like new, I cant believe how I got used to it driving so poorly. I hope to replace the front brakes this weekend.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
I saw earlier in the thread you were concerned about doing the front brake job. I did mine myself and will post the link to the thread I started about it. It is really not a bad job at all. a lot of the thread I am linking is just back and forth about what kinda rotors to use but in the very last post of the thread I wrote up a summary of the job with some tips that might be helpful to you. Good luck to you.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...rew-4x4-2.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...rew-4x4-2.html
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: NY (not the city!!)
Hey, thanks for the help. I got Wagner thermoquiet pads and Wagner rotors ($115ish a piece). Advance auto had a sale, mail-in rebate and I get extra cash back from my discover card. I saved a good amount of money and I think these will work well. I have a repair manual too, so I just gotta wait until the weekend. I will give an update on how everything goes and how the wagner stuff works. Thanks again.
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