replacing top ball joint
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Tuned
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 1
From: Wilsonville,Oregon
replacing top ball joint
just wondering if its possible to change the top ball joints without special tools.
i know i need to replace them all but the top right one is very loose. when i take off the wheel i can shake the rotor and theres alot of play.
is it pissble with a c clamp and a hammer? to remove and install?
thanks
99 e250 ext
i know i need to replace them all but the top right one is very loose. when i take off the wheel i can shake the rotor and theres alot of play.
is it pissble with a c clamp and a hammer? to remove and install?
thanks
99 e250 ext
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 711
Likes: 2
From: Outside of Memphis, TN
With some pipe, or very large sockets, and a c-clamp, it CAN be done. That said, you really should get your hands on a balljoint press. Autozone rents one for a $100 deposit, which is returned when you are done. Make sure you can get your hands on a vice, and I strongly recommend an impact gun to operate the press.
If you use a c-clamp, make sure it is one hell of a clamp. The ball joint press I use is about 35 lbs, and a huge chunk of cast iron. If you spray the ball joints a day or two in advance it will help a LOT. I have 6 E-series on my farm, and several F-series, and have replaced joints on ALL of them in the past month. None of them had bad upper joints, ALL of them had bad lowers. Double check your findings to make sure your bottoms are not shot too. They carry 100% of the vehicles front axle weight. The uppers mostly take side loading forces when steering, etc.
If you use a c-clamp, make sure it is one hell of a clamp. The ball joint press I use is about 35 lbs, and a huge chunk of cast iron. If you spray the ball joints a day or two in advance it will help a LOT. I have 6 E-series on my farm, and several F-series, and have replaced joints on ALL of them in the past month. None of them had bad upper joints, ALL of them had bad lowers. Double check your findings to make sure your bottoms are not shot too. They carry 100% of the vehicles front axle weight. The uppers mostly take side loading forces when steering, etc.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 10
From: Thornhill , Ontario
I guess if you have enough time you can do anything ... I recomend either buying the tool or renting / borrowing it ... the 250 and 350 require a special adaptor socket with a cut out to remove the upper...I had to buy it along with the ball joint tool kit , which came with 6 adaptors but not the special "econoline" one ...if I knew how to post pictures, I could show you a picture of what it looks like ...
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I've done this enough times to say it would be far easier to get a BJ tool from a parts store(already mentioned).This is not the hardest job but why make it harder?The right tools go a long way in making an unpleasant task bearable.not to mention safer. That being said,are you sure it's the bj and not wheel bearing?As mentioned earlier soak them prior to taking them out.And if you're going to go through all this work you may as well do both.Just my 2cents
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 711
Likes: 2
From: Outside of Memphis, TN
I've done this enough times to say it would be far easier to get a BJ tool from a parts store(already mentioned).This is not the hardest job but why make it harder?The right tools go a long way in making an unpleasant task bearable.not to mention safer. That being said,are you sure it's the bj and not wheel bearing?As mentioned earlier soak them prior to taking them out.And if you're going to go through all this work you may as well do both.Just my 2cents
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,255
Likes: 1,657
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Absofrickinglutely on this ^^^!!!
Going this deep into such a project and you're money ahead to change all four. Save yourself the headache of doing this all over again soon after its done!
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