lower ball joints
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lower ball joints
Hey has anybody had their lower control arm ball joints replaced at an early stage, truck only has 6500miles. I am experiencing some play when I rock the tire back and forth along w/ a knock at the ball joint.
Thanx Rich
Thanx Rich
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Yes I'm sure. I was able to see it. Jacked up under lower c-arm and had a friend push in on bottom of tire and pull on top of tire and you can actualy see it go up. It's internal in ball joint. I have an Apt. w/ Ford next Monday.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: BC, Canada
Ford now says to replace the whole control arm instead of just the balljoint. I guess that the warranty dept wants to have a better look at the failed ball joints now to see what's wrong with them.
Fleet Mechanic
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Is that Six Thousand Five Hundred miles? f so a warranty issue unless you were in an accident.
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From: West Gardiner, ME
I've replaced lots of ball joints at under forty thousand miles, and I have to replace mine once a year (about 35K) the torsion bar front suspension is horrible on the lower ball joints, it isn't just related to our trucks, explorers, rangers, expeditions (all which use the same ball joint), chevy's, dodge dakota/durango's all have crappy ball joints, but at 30 bucks a piece for the lowers and an hour to change two, they are cheap issues to deal with.
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From: Tulsa, Ok
I had to have mine done ( 4wd ) I had a loud popping sound when I turned the wheel, It still did it. I finally found a guy that didn't want to tear into the differential, or change out the front left axel. He found that the cause of my abnormal wear (on the left side only )was that the a-arm was bound up with the frame. He loosened the bolt where the a-arm bolts to the frame, turned the wheel back and forth to let it relax, and tightened it back up....... End of problem, and abnormal wear. I had 50 something K on it at the time. Pretty much everybushing on the left side was shot because of it.
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Ok here is the scoop. Got my truck back from the dealer and ford said that the ball joints are within Ford specs and also, due to aftermarket spindals, they would'nt be able to touch the ball joints. From what I have heard, that Ford's ball joint specs are a little on the sloppy side?????, but they say it's normal and in Ford's specs. The Tech. said also due to larger tires, you will feel more in those areas. It's like using a small wrench on a bolt and it won't break free, but use a larger one and it breaks free, (more leverege). These ball joints are designed for the proper size tire.
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From: Wolfforth, TX
Thats wierd because my 01 Screw is slammed 5 1/2" in front and 8 1/2" in the rear and at 65,000 miles I still have the factory Ball Joints but I have had some customers complain about their 97-03 Fords making lower suspension noise.
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From: BC, Canada
karenj you're right about Ford's specs being pretty sloppy. They say that up to .060" of vertical movement is ok. I disagree with that but it's what we have to go by under warranty.
If it's a noise concern and not a tire wear problem they might be able to replace them with less that .060" of play.
If it's a noise concern and not a tire wear problem they might be able to replace them with less that .060" of play.
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Thanks for the reply back, I know what you are talking about Racerguy and yes the movment is vertical. The noise is'nt all the time but "I" know it's there, but I'll keep an eye on it. While my truck was in,I also reported the stearing gear box seeping fluid from top of box, Ford changed it and they did a good clean job, they even had my truck washed, did'nt ask for that, but I'll take it. I'll say hats off to my Ford dealer, good job!!!!!
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