Ball joints........
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Ball joints........
Pretty frustrated, trying to swap joints before it snows (tomorrow) bench vice broke, had to return and re-order joints..... anyways, on my 2001 f250 4x4, I believe the procedure to tightening the joint nuts on the axle housing is tighten the lower joint to 35 feet pounds, tighten the top but to 69-70 feet pounds, then tightening the bottom to 150 feet pounds.. my torque wrench feels way off and is very cheap... so I tuned it to the proper specs and went through the tightening procedures and the knuckle is very snug... will this change after the break in period??
in summary of my questions:
1: are my torque specs and procedures correct
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
in summary of my questions:
1: are my torque specs and procedures correct
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,345
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Pretty frustrated, trying to swap joints before it snows (tomorrow) bench vice broke, had to return and re-order joints..... anyways, on my 2001 f250 4x4, I believe the procedure to tightening the joint nuts on the axle housing is tighten the lower joint to 35 feet pounds, tighten the top but to 69-70 feet pounds, then tightening the bottom to 150 feet pounds.. my torque wrench feels way off and is very cheap... so I tuned it to the proper specs and went through the tightening procedures and the knuckle is very snug... will this change after the break in period??
in summary of my questions:
1: are my torque specs and procedures correct
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
in summary of my questions:
1: are my torque specs and procedures correct
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
2. Not sure, sorry
3. Can be, but should be tested for precision work
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
Likes: 4
1. There is a Ford spec on how to do it somewhere, I found it when I did mine. The process you listed sounds right but I forget the exact specs.
2. might be tough to turn by hand the first few times, but should loosen up.
3. Decent brand? I'd trust a Snap-On, would not trust a Harbor Freight. You get what you pay for.
2. might be tough to turn by hand the first few times, but should loosen up.
3. Decent brand? I'd trust a Snap-On, would not trust a Harbor Freight. You get what you pay for.
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Senior User
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1. There is a Ford spec on how to do it somewhere, I found it when I did mine. The process you listed sounds right but I forget the exact specs.
2. might be tough to turn by hand the first few times, but should loosen up.
3. Decent brand? I'd trust a Snap-On, would not trust a Harbor Freight. You get what you pay for.
2. might be tough to turn by hand the first few times, but should loosen up.
3. Decent brand? I'd trust a Snap-On, would not trust a Harbor Freight. You get what you pay for.
think they’re too tight??
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
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No your numbers sound right from what I recall. 35 bottom, 69 top then either 101 or 150 bottom depending which ball joints/year. I don't think an extra 50 ft lbs would stop them from moving, the only part that spins is the ball inside the joint. They shouldn't be loose to turn, should be snug, it should take some muscle to move them. They'll move a lot easier once the wheels are on and you have some mass to push them.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
Your numbers are good and no re-torque necessary. Done this job a few times. I took my knuckles to a my local guy to press out the old ones and press in new ones....for $20 a side, I couldn't pass it up.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,216
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Strike the assembly where the ball joints are from the side with a brass hammer or softer with a hard metal hammer that should loosen things up.
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From: Henderson, NV
Originally Posted by StrokinHer01
1: are my torque specs and procedures correct
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
2: why is the knuckle tight to turn by hand
3: are digital torque wrenches reliable
2. It's supposed to be that way with new ball joints.
3. I prefer split-beam style mechanical torque wrenches.
Originally Posted by F0rdc0wb0y
Chilton says:
1999-2001
upper joint 101 ft-lbs
lower joint 101 ft-lbs
Then they say for 2002-2004
upper joint 69 ft-lbs
lower joint 150 ft-lbs
no idea why the values change
1999-2001
upper joint 101 ft-lbs
lower joint 101 ft-lbs
Then they say for 2002-2004
upper joint 69 ft-lbs
lower joint 150 ft-lbs
no idea why the values change
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