Current Ball Joint Question
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
I was referring to rob ross's comments about grease worn joints and helping wander in the first page. I don't have worn out lowers anymore. I swapped in a dana 60 instead of investing one cent in the 50 that was under there.
Though the bj's on the 60 have a little bit of play so they will be replaced with xrf's at some point.
Though the bj's on the 60 have a little bit of play so they will be replaced with xrf's at some point.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,064
Likes: 1,573
From: Media PA
Nice job Rodder! 
Looks very familiar, I took a peak at mine yesterday because of this thread and saw that one of the zerks is missing, not sure if it got broken off or (hard to believe) fell out. Will have to check into it farther next time I fall down under the EX.
Looks very familiar, I took a peak at mine yesterday because of this thread and saw that one of the zerks is missing, not sure if it got broken off or (hard to believe) fell out. Will have to check into it farther next time I fall down under the EX.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
The parts store gave me a handful. He said they were non inventoried, been in the been for years and no other employees would even know what the were. Online the ones I found showed drilling. 005 under, I figured the tighter fit I gave may help hold them in.
I'll post later if I feel / sense any different handling.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 2
From: Flat Rock, MI
I was referring to rob ross's comments about grease worn joints and helping wander in the first page. I don't have worn out lowers anymore. I swapped in a dana 60 instead of investing one cent in the 50 that was under there.
Though the bj's on the 60 have a little bit of play so they will be replaced with xrf's at some point.
Though the bj's on the 60 have a little bit of play so they will be replaced with xrf's at some point.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
I drove around town this afternoon, probably 12 miles, 10-35 mph.
Not much difference.
This evening we shot on the freeway for 14 miles doing 70 mph. I "think" there was improvement. But feel I should give it a little time in case it's wishful thinking.....you know?
The kicker is we came home the back way, more rural, 45-55 mph with varying speeds and corners with small hills, etc.
But, I had my wife drive. She drives an 07 Denali. That is a sports car compared to the EX, with less resistance in turning the wheel and absolutely no wander and a quicker ratio steering it makes my truck feel like a clunker....
She rarely drives the Excursion but felt it was better than driving it a few weeks ago.
I will update this after a few hundred miles and post what I think then.
Sorry about the hijacking, just feel it's relevant and not worthy of a separate thread.
Not much difference.
This evening we shot on the freeway for 14 miles doing 70 mph. I "think" there was improvement. But feel I should give it a little time in case it's wishful thinking.....you know?
The kicker is we came home the back way, more rural, 45-55 mph with varying speeds and corners with small hills, etc.
But, I had my wife drive. She drives an 07 Denali. That is a sports car compared to the EX, with less resistance in turning the wheel and absolutely no wander and a quicker ratio steering it makes my truck feel like a clunker....
She rarely drives the Excursion but felt it was better than driving it a few weeks ago.
I will update this after a few hundred miles and post what I think then.
Sorry about the hijacking, just feel it's relevant and not worthy of a separate thread.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
factory uppers have no zerks. The moog replacement uppers do but wont clear the ujoint on a 4x4, so they come with a small plug to use after servicing. Its a pain to reinstall a fitting every time to service it so its really not practical.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 2
From: Flat Rock, MI
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
I believe my uppers are factory and they have a zerk. The zerk is straight and I had to buy this for my grease gun. Grease Gun Fitting by RobRoss | Ford-Trucks.com
pics? Curious to see how it clears. Never seen one with factory installed greasable joints.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 2
From: Flat Rock, MI
Anywho, click the link for the picture in post 53 or 54.
Last edited by RobRoss; Apr 23, 2015 at 09:19 AM. Reason: added content
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
I meant a pic of the ball joint. I would say its been changed. I've been under a lot of superduties and haven't seen factory grease fittings on any of them. Either way I'm curious which zerk you have that clears the ujoint, it might be something for me to aquire when I put in mine next week.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 2
From: Flat Rock, MI
I meant a pic of the ball joint. I would say its been changed. I've been under a lot of superduties and haven't seen factory grease fittings on any of them. Either way I'm curious which zerk you have that clears the ujoint, it might be something for me to aquire when I put in mine next week.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
Anyone ever try to go super ghetto on the bj replacement and just hammer out the old bj's and pull the entire knuckle and spindle off without disassembly? Not sure if you could press the new ones in and still squeeze the knuckle back on with the axle in place. Probably not. Was just looking at the job and thinking, well, that might work.