Ball Joint Problems
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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Ball Joint Problems
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANY EXCURSION OR 250 OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD EARLY BALL JOINT FAILURES...
MINE WENT AT 40,000 MILES & WAS TOLD THEY ARE FAILING AS EARLY AS 17,000 MILES...
SERVICE MANGER INDICATED PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOW "SEALED UNITS" WITHOUT GREASE FITTINGS...
SOUNDS LIKE A "DESIGN DEFECT" TO ME!
MINE WENT AT 40,000 MILES & WAS TOLD THEY ARE FAILING AS EARLY AS 17,000 MILES...
SERVICE MANGER INDICATED PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOW "SEALED UNITS" WITHOUT GREASE FITTINGS...
SOUNDS LIKE A "DESIGN DEFECT" TO ME!
Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 67
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From: A-town
i ordered Moog ball joints
I have used them on all of my cars and have never had a problem
ball joints
this place is great, never had a problem with them
good prices too
I have used them on all of my cars and have never had a problem
ball joints
this place is great, never had a problem with them
good prices too
FTE *******
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
26,000 miles, replacing mine at the state inspection shop tomorow.....350 bucks for the left upper, left lower....both Moog joints. I was going to do it myself thinking that they were going to hit me for 450-500 or maybe even more...but at 350 its not worth me stopping the work on my other project for a day to worry about this. Im happy with the price, not so happy with the joints at 26K miles.......
FTE *******
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Ball joints are under factory warranty, but my truck is a 5-2000. I have low miles, but its 5 years old.....a 3/36,000 does not apply to me :]
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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This is not a Ford only issue. I talked with the SM at a local Chevy dealer and they tell similar tales of ball joints going at under 10,000 miles due to being sealed. IF you can get tehm replaced under warranty they will be the same sealed units. I had mine done on my 2000 X when it was under warranty.....then had them done with my own money with greasable joints when my X ran out of warranty. That's life in the fast lane!!!!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 833
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From: latrobe pa
Its also posible to add zerk fittings to the factory ball joints, i did mine when new, you need a long drill bit to get to the uppers and you have to cut the wheels to one side and rotate the axle to get in there but its not that bad, run your tap in the holes you drilled and use a magnet pulled from a magnetic drain plug to remove the metal filings from the holes, looks factory when your done, hope this helps Craig. (ps: you need the 90 degree fittings for the uppers , they just clear the axles!)
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 594
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I would save the money, and do both sides together yourself. I always change both socks at the same time, if you know what I mean.
Originally Posted by fordtrkpuller
26,000 miles, replacing mine at the state inspection shop tomorow.....350 bucks for the left upper, left lower....both Moog joints. I was going to do it myself thinking that they were going to hit me for 450-500 or maybe even more...but at 350 its not worth me stopping the work on my other project for a day to worry about this. Im happy with the price, not so happy with the joints at 26K miles.......
FTE *******
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I know my front end still feels loose. The steering wheel has about 2" of movement that is not effecting the steering...I told the shop to really go over the front end hard and find anything that was even suspect of showing a little wear...and the 2 joints were all they could find. I may take it to another shop when I get home with it, we are currently traveling in Minesota until the end of the month. I still love my Ex, b ut it has a few health issues to work out yet.....like the turbo pressure leak/vac leak sound that goes away if you get to about 7-8 lbs of boost.....the front brakes pull left on hard braking, the loose front end...and the slipping 2nd gear in the tranny if Im on the rug and it shifts from 1st to 2nd. Once I get around to getting all of these things taken care of...it will be perfect!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 130
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From: British Columbia, Canada
Fords are notorious for eating OEM ball joints. Mine went at 65,000 kms. I've replaced all with Moog grease-ables. But I bent one at 112,000. The ball joint was replaced on a lifetime warranty but the labour wasn't.
Truth be known, the ball joints are undersized both on the 250 and 350. Ford tough? Not really. In an effort to reduce axle mass and weight, both the knuckles and brake rotors are too small for a truck of this size and rated capacity.
If you intend to keep your Ex for a long time, learn to swap them out yourself. With just a bit of rough use you can expect to have them loosen up every 30,000 miles. The swap out is pretty straight forward and just requires alot of brute force.
Truth be known, the ball joints are undersized both on the 250 and 350. Ford tough? Not really. In an effort to reduce axle mass and weight, both the knuckles and brake rotors are too small for a truck of this size and rated capacity.
If you intend to keep your Ex for a long time, learn to swap them out yourself. With just a bit of rough use you can expect to have them loosen up every 30,000 miles. The swap out is pretty straight forward and just requires alot of brute force.
Last edited by GeoQwest; May 10, 2005 at 09:45 PM.
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