I got a 2002 Explorer with the 4.6 V8 2WD. My fiance just had the brake pads replaced and when the guy was changing the pads he said the ball joints need to be replaced. When it is rolling the truck makes an aweful squeaking/squealing noise, and when the wheel is turned there is a tremor in the steering wheel. So question #1, does this sound like it is only the ball joints? #2, Can I replace the front then wait a bit then do the back? #3, I am a broke college student so the cheaper the better, that being said, I have read that for the uppers you have to replace the upper control arm, but parts houses have the ball joint separate, so in order to save money can I just press out and press in the ball joints?

I am sorry for so many questions, but I have never worked on one of these trucks. I am used to my 85 and 96 F250s. lol
Thanks for any help I can get.

 

Is the squeak noise only when you hit bumps or turn the steering wheel and sound like rubber on rubber, or maybe like you might hear when turning the wheels on a smooth concrete garage floor? If that seems to be a reasonable description and the noise isn't directly related to vehicle speed, I would agree that the problem is likely due to a dry ball joint or tie rod end. You could use a needle grease gun tip or a pick and spray lithium grease to narrow down which particular joint is noisy rather than just replacing them all at once. Poke a hole in the rubber dust boot for one of the joints, insert some grease, then bounce the vehicle, turn the steering wheel, or do whatever you had to do to get the noise to happen. If the noise is noticeably quieter or gone completely, you've found the culprit. If not, move to another joint until you identify the one or more joints that, when greased, cause the noise to go away completely. Keep in mind this is just a method to identify the worn suspension/steering component and is not a long-term fix. You'll want to replace the offending joint or joints as soon as possible. If any of the joints are loose, you obviously need to replace them sooner than "as possible" as it's a safety issue.

-Rod