I would like to thank all the guys who have posted on doing this job. I'm excited to tackle it like I have a few other things that this site has made easy. Going to be doing the ball joints on my 01 ex. Have done quite a bit of reading and am leaning toward the XRF brand. Any cons to these? Are they holding up well? Also going to do u joints while I got those accessible. Any brand that you guys recommend for that? Thanks in advance for your advice. JT

 

I'm in the throes of it, installing XRF ball joints right now. A few notes to keep in mind.

* The upper ball joint requires a 1 and 1/8" socket.
* The lower ball joint requres a 1 and 5/16" socket.
* You don't need these two to be deep welled sockets, just standard depth. My local source for both was Northern Tools ($8 a socket)
* I could not find the 1 and 5/16" socket in anything smaller than 3/4" drive so I needed to buy a 3/4" breaker bar. (oh darn, Harbor Freight or Northern Tools)
* The large pitman arm puller will work really well for removing the tie rods quick. (rent it at auto parts stores)
* A standard ball joint press kit does not have all the fittings you will need. I found the kit available for rent at Advance Auto had most every fitting I needed and then some I had to substitute some flatstock at one point because of the size limitations of the press. Here is a link that shows the special fittings and when to use the flatstock. I found this site very helpful: 2004 F250 Ball Joint Replacement
* The upper XRF joint was slightly larger in diameter that the factory joint so the ball joint press kit fittings did not fit quite as well.


* Grease the upper ball joint after you torque it down and before you install the axle. You'll have enough room without having to buy the 90 degree grease gun adapter until later.

Yes replace the front u-joints while you're in there. That way you know they are fresh.


You can get the ball joints here for a good price:

The Tire Club
The link was originally provided by housedad

 

Hey Jason thanks for the insight. I love buying new tools lately. How long did it take for you and had you done these before.

 

Still finishing the job. I've heard DIY estimates of 8 hours for the first side and 4 for the second since you'll know what you're doing by then. I think that includes cleaning all the seal surfaces and stuff. I've been in there doing vacuum seals before so it's going a little faster. I had the passenger side all torn down to the knuckle in about 45 minutes.

Wrestling with the knuckle when removing the ball joints is FUN. Clamp it in a good vise.

PS: You'll also need to make the seal installation tool for the large axle seal. It's on the link I provided above. It's a handy little home made tool.

 

I've probably seen the site. Can't get it to open on my phone. I heard of making them with pcv or water pipe. Which did you use. I will be doing this in my driveway probably around Christmas. Might have to take knuckle to work if I can't get it.

 

When I did mine, I:
1) placed knuckle on thick cardboard (like this

2) I took the snap ring off the lower ball joint
3) soaked with penetrating oil
3) sat a ball peen hammer on lower ball joint (flat side on ball joint,hit rounded side with sledge)
4) hit the ball peen hammer with a five pound sledge. (I hit it hard...really REALLY hard!) Took three whacks.

 

So I am getting ready to do this myself and wondering if there is any advice for me on this one. I have some of the tools already and plan on having all the stuff listed before i start and will be soaking each side with liquid wrench before I do it. Was planing on renting that tool for removing the ball joints and i am guessing that will make it so i don't have to use the sledge to get things out? or is there other stuff that will require some extra persuasion?

Any tips before I start pulling things apart would be nice.

thanks,