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There is a strange bump/clunk when changing directions of the steering wheel, I am thinking it is this track bar ball joint so I ordered a new motorcraft one on Amazon that will be here tomorrow. I rented the below ball joint press from Oreilly's, any tips for removal/installation? The video I uploaded to youtube is below.
No, have never had the death wobble. 27k 2.5” ready lift level on 37s. Just a weird clunk when changing direction of the steering wheel and over speed bumps.
Crazy you never felt any death wobble... Might be worth it to buy an OTC ball joint press tool. they're considered the best and honestly thats a tool that you dont want to break when you're using it. If you can look on ebay and see if you can find a used USA made one. You may need to get more adapters too, again OTC has them as well.
Crazy you never felt any death wobble... Might be worth it to buy an OTC ball joint press tool. they're considered the best and honestly thats a tool that you dont want to break when you're using it. If you can look on ebay and see if you can find a used USA made one. You may need to get more adapters too, again OTC has them as well.
I rented the tool, I will have the track bar off when I change it. I don’t understand the comment about not wanting it to break when I use it, if the tool breaks I’ll return it and rent another from another auto parts store. Anyone change one of these with a rented ball joint press? If I can’t make it work, I guess I’ll take the trackbar to a alignment shop and pay someone to press it out and in.
It might just be that the bolt is slightly loose. It need to be torqued to 450 LBFT. Mine made a clunk after the leveling kit was installed. They just didn’t get the track bar ball joint bolt tight enough. Once it was re-tightened the noise went away. I think it is fairly common that that bolt doesn’t get torqued enough and makes a clunk after people have their leveling kit installed.
It might just be that the bolt is slightly loose. It need to be torqued to 450 LBFT. Mine made a clunk after the leveling kit was installed. They just didn’t get the track bar ball joint bolt tight enough. Once it was re-tightened the noise went away. I think it is fairly common that that bolt doesn’t get torqued enough and makes a clunk after people have their leveling kit installed.
Originally that’s what I thought too. I tightened it too much and broke that bolt, replaced with a new one and torqued to 406ft/lbs with the right tool. The upper track bar bolt isn’t loose.
apriciate the video- I am going to look at this on mine. mine has the DW and I can see movement in the bushing of the track bar but I didn't look at the other end.
I could not press out the bushing tho- I gave up for now.....
Update:
Wrestled with the track bar ball joint with the press and a BFH for a few hours last night, finally gave up and decided to find a shop to press it out for me this morning. Went to 4 different local auto service shops before I found one that said they would do it, he also said in 28 years he had never seen anyone replace one, they just replace the trackbar with the ball joint already installed. Regardless, with the right Snap On ball joint tools and a hydraulic press they were able to get it out and new one in 15 minutes. It took a considerable amount of force for it to break loose, so I was glad I gave up after only a couple hours. I am happy to note that it did fix the cluck and tightened up the steering considerably. My wife asked why I didn't take to dealer to have it replaced, but I am not sure if they would warranty it with a level and 37s? Anyone have front suspension work warrantied with a level kit installed? I can throw some factory wheels and tires on if the 37s would cause an issue. I have right over 27k miles but purchased the 100k Ford ESP. I hope this one last a little longer...
Update:
Wrestled with the track bar ball joint with the press and a BFH for a few hours last night, finally gave up and decided to find a shop to press it out for me this morning. Went to 4 different local auto service shops before I found one that said they would do it, he also said in 28 years he had never seen anyone replace one, they just replace the trackbar with the ball joint already installed. Regardless, with the right Snap On ball joint tools and a hydraulic press they were able to get it out and new one in 15 minutes. It took a considerable amount of force for it to break loose, so I was glad I gave up after only a couple hours. I am happy to note that it did fix the cluck and tightened up the steering considerably. My wife asked why I didn't take to dealer to have it replaced, but I am not sure if they would warranty it with a level and 37s? Anyone have front suspension work warrantied with a level kit installed? I can throw some factory wheels and tires on if the 37s would cause an issue. I have right over 27k miles but purchased the 100k Ford ESP. I hope this one last a little longer...
less hassle to just do it on your own and you know its actually fixed. I told Ford about my clunk " its the shocks, it's normal" yea ok guy.... this was when it was bone stock. I wonder if Moog has a problem solver ball joint for it yet, they're usually a bit more beefy.
Ford changed OEM suppliers on this joint. The 05-10 trucks had a joint made in Brazil that lasted considerably longer, these newer joints are made in Mexico. And seem to be junk on comparison...
less hassle to just do it on your own and you know its actually fixed. I told Ford about my clunk " its the shocks, it's normal" yea ok guy.... this was when it was bone stock. I wonder if Moog has a problem solver ball joint for it yet, they're usually a bit more beefy.
Yeah, that's why I wanted to do it myself in the first place. It was quite a pain to get out though, hopefully this one last longer than 27k miles. I thought these trucks were supposed to be capable of "offroad", at least that is what it says under my FX4 sticker. Popped over a few curbs and going down a few lease roads is about all the "offroad" action my truck has seen. haha
I can hear the service manager now.... "The additional stress of the 2.5" lift/level and larger than factory tires contributed to the premature failure of the component, that'll be $500"
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Popped over a few curbs and going down a few lease roads is about all the "offroad" action my truck has seen. haha