Upper Ball Joint - How much play?
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 104
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Upper Ball Joint - How much play?
Vehicle: 2004 Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0/auto
When I lift the front passenger wheel off the ground, I can feel a little play in the upper ball joint. I don't think it's more than a 1/16" but it does move (driver's side doesn't move at all). Is any play acceptable or should the upper control arm be replaced?
Additional info: the truck needs tires and I plan to buy them soon. It's going to need an alignment and I'm guessing this should be addressed before that. Yes?
TIA, Dave.
When I lift the front passenger wheel off the ground, I can feel a little play in the upper ball joint. I don't think it's more than a 1/16" but it does move (driver's side doesn't move at all). Is any play acceptable or should the upper control arm be replaced?
Additional info: the truck needs tires and I plan to buy them soon. It's going to need an alignment and I'm guessing this should be addressed before that. Yes?
TIA, Dave.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
Once they start to show wear, ball joints can get real bad real fast. On my 2005 ball joint replacement requires a front end alignment as the new joint came with an entire control arm. I special ordered upper control arms that have replaceable ball joints so that next time I will not need the alignment. I will be able to use a ball joint press and remove the ball joint while leaving the control arm untouched.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Your vehicle is 15+ years old. Do you have the tools, shop space and skills to do the job yourself? If yes, replace everything on that front end that is a wear item and THEN get your alignment and tires. (Fix it even if you have to pay to do it, it's just higher priced)
Fixing only the one part now will be more costly a few months down the road when other parts fail.
Fixing only the one part now will be more costly a few months down the road when other parts fail.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 104
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
Once they start to show wear, ball joints can get real bad real fast. On my 2005 ball joint replacement requires a front end alignment as the new joint came with an entire control arm. I special ordered upper control arms that have replaceable ball joints so that next time I will not need the alignment. I will be able to use a ball joint press and remove the ball joint while leaving the control arm untouched.
Your vehicle is 15+ years old. Do you have the tools, shop space and skills to do the job yourself? If yes, replace everything on that front end that is a wear item and THEN get your alignment and tires. (Fix it even if you have to pay to do it, it's just higher priced)
Fixing only the one part now will be more costly a few months down the road when other parts fail.
Fixing only the one part now will be more costly a few months down the road when other parts fail.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
It is just as easy to replace the entire control arm but then you will need a front end alignment which will add to the cost. I paid extra and special ordered the upper control arms (I did all four ball joints at once) so that next time I won't need an alignment. My truck had removable lower ball joints anyway. If you have a ball joint press, which is nothing more than a heavy duty aluminum C-clamp with several adapters, replacing just the joint is not difficult.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Are you keeping your truck a year or several years? This will determine if you get cheapie Chinese parts or something of a better grade. Proforged and Motorcraft are good replacements, Moog Problem Solvers might be riding on their name, but still better than some of the other junk on the market. Still got he factory shock absorbers? They should also be considered.
Of course the auto part stores have the tools you can use, although most of their loaner tools have really been abused. You'll need the ball joint press (glorified C-clamp and accessories), ball joint separator (pickle fork), and assorted hand tools.
Good luck and let us know how your before and after ride feels. New shocks really affect ride quality.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
seismojones
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
5
Mar 11, 2015 09:39 AM
