balljoint
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 84
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From: simpsonville
balljoint
a few weeks ago I was having a problem with the steering on my 01 f250 4x4. I have changed everything on the front except hubs. I knew that one lower ball joint on right side was tight and after reading a lot, thought it had to be the problem for the sticky steering. all the joints were replaced a year ago and been fighting driving since. bought new lower ball joint from napa. think it was made by dana and I ask the guy he ever had anyone say they were tight from the start. so I put that one in.... same thing. knuckle turns free until I torque the bottom nut and it locks up. got about 50 miles on it so far and its no different than the one I took out. somebody tell me something please before I go insane or my wife divorces me for working on this all the time. thanks
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,813
Likes: 1,335
From: Elk Grove, CA
That's a lot of work to do just one. Why not do both top and bottom?
Do the balljoints have grease zerks? They can get in the way so move it through the range of motion looking for contact.
Do the balljoints have grease zerks? They can get in the way so move it through the range of motion looking for contact.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 84
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From: simpsonville
I torqued bottom first to 100 pounds and then top to 100. soon as the bottom snugs tight it sticks in place. before its torqued. same thing with the other ball joint that was in there. I replaced all 4 ball joints and drag link and steering box a year ago. u joints, seals a couple months ago. the u joint was froze on that side pretty bad but the new one didn't change the way it drove. that's why I changed only one ball joint. had same problem with the first one. thought it could have been a defected ball joint.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 511
Likes: 2
Your "sticky steering" sounds familiar. Is it all the time or just random when going into and coming out of a turn? I've done Red Head Steering Gear and new steering stabilizer. Both seemed to fix it for about 800 miles then it returned.
Mine is completely random and hasn't happened for a few weeks now. Only change...I have locked my hubs in for the winter, so I'm thinking when unlocked I may have sticky hub issue? Perhaps time to pull them out and lube them up?? Ah the joys of winter research and tinkering.
Mine is completely random and hasn't happened for a few weeks now. Only change...I have locked my hubs in for the winter, so I'm thinking when unlocked I may have sticky hub issue? Perhaps time to pull them out and lube them up?? Ah the joys of winter research and tinkering.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: simpsonville
mine is all the time. which ever way the steering wheel is turned to keep it in your lane it keeps going that way. when you correct it , it goes the other way. on and on back and fourth
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 207
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From: South Carolina
What you just said is classic to tight jack up grease get new steer stabilizer grease often it will improve really not meant options sorry 100 bottom and top is correct bottom first
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Cracker....can you make that statement a little more clearer?? "Classic too tight" meaning the ball joints were over torqued? Grease often what...the zerks on the joints? Rally not meant options....what does this mean? Should the joint be loosened and then retorqued to 100lbs?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Norco,CA
Don't remember the torq but they are different top and bottom. At least on 4x4. I'd say if it sticks going both ways I'd look at the hydro boost. It may not be working right. I mean what's left, you've done everything else.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 207
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From: South Carolina
Sorry slow response on duty sometimes ball joints even torqued to correct torque are just tight as hell won't return to center without help. I have put cheap ones in had it happen and moog that were tight. On my own truck last set was "tight" I just put new steer stabilizer on greased often with axle jacked up loosen up after few thousand miles no worries it was my truck done correct just can happens. I will say flush your ps system and you won't notice hard steer as much and easier turn back to center. I would not change out ball joints.
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
I replaced mine with Moog's and had no issues but when I took it to the shop for an alignment the old timer there asked me if I "SET" the ball joints? I said what do you mean, "SET" the ball joints? He explained that when you finish torquing them down you should take a deadblow hammer and smack the knuckle to "SET" the ball joints. He claimed that it set everything in place and made them move more freely? I did not do this and like I said mine are fine but worth a try? I wonder if you need more caster in your front end alignment as well. This I believe is what makes the front wheels want to come back to straight...
Just my .02, hope you get this figured out.
Just my .02, hope you get this figured out.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: simpsonville
I found a video on youtube of napa tec showing how to correct memory steer. he had a set of ball joints,the same ones I bought installed and showed how tight they were. he says installed incorrect. they took them out and installed like this { make sure the caster sleeve is out. install nuckel . put bottom nut on hand tight. install caster sleeve with your hand.. don't drive it in.put top nut on hand tight and torque bottom nut to 35. torque top nut to 70. then torque bottom nut to 190. they were loose after they done that so looks like I will be tearing it back down to try it.
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