Ball Joint ?'s
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,798
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From: Wichita KS.
Ball Joint ?'s
My truck is a 1980 F-150 with the 300. I know that there hasen't been a whole lot done to it in terms of upkeep and now it's starting to drive a little funny. By funny, I mean that it feels like the alignment is off and it wants to pull to one side. The biggest problem is that the side it pulls to is not constant. It goes either way. If this is the ball joints going out, how can I tell? Would there be something I should look for or check?
If it's not the ball joints, then what do you guys think the problem might be?
I hope I gave enough info, if not let me know what you need.
Thanks in advance.
If it's not the ball joints, then what do you guys think the problem might be?
I hope I gave enough info, if not let me know what you need.
Thanks in advance.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Ball joints would be my first guess. I had to replace mine on my old bucket around 95K ( the person I bought the truck from thought maintenance was just driving it ). Looking at the front wheels for that year, the wheels should be pretty close to perpendicular the ground and at the same angle. When the joints get real bad this will become obvious ( one wheel may be much different than the other). Try jacking the truck up one wheel a a time and move the tire up and down, should be no movement without moving the springs . Clunking while doing this is a bad sign also. Another place to look at is the front suspension bushings, they can cause funny handling. I replaced the upper and lower ball joints on my old girl and it helped a lot. It doesn't handle like a sports car, but never did.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Ball joints will go out long before bearings 99% of the time.
In addition to ball joints, you might also want to look at tie rod ends. Have someone sit in the cab and turn the wheel back and forth just enough to put pressure on the steering system one way and then the other. If any of the tie rod ends move excessively, that's contributing to the problem.
In addition to ball joints, you might also want to look at tie rod ends. Have someone sit in the cab and turn the wheel back and forth just enough to put pressure on the steering system one way and then the other. If any of the tie rod ends move excessively, that's contributing to the problem.
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