ball joints?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: stevens point
ball joints?
we have a 94 ford explorer 4.0 4x4 pretty sure it ahs bad ball joints, really loud when we go over bumps, almost sounds like the shocks? but i dont know for sure would like your opinions! thanks!
quackhead
quackhead
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
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From: UT
I would blame radius arm bushings before ball joints if it's clunking when going over bumps. They have a history of failure. You would have to get underneath and check them out, before deciding for sure.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 886
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From: Cincinnati
Yes, check the one under the drivers seat. The heat from the cat causes it to go bad. Be sure to get polyurathane ones because you have likely taken chunks of metal out of your crossmember by now. This is what I call a "big tool" job.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
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From: UT
Not hard. If you don't have one, I'd suggest getting a repair manual to refer to (If print manuals are too old fashioned for you, www.autozone.com has an electronic version of Chiltons). We'll try to help you with whatever, but it can take so much longer to get answers from a forum like this. It only takes a couple minutes to post a question and who knows how long (hours) to get a response. It will only take a few minutes to look something up in a manual, and then you have the answer right there.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 126
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From: Moscow, Russia
How to check ball joints. Jack up the front wheel, then try to rock the wheel. Pull the upper end of the wheel, and push the lower one -- and vice versa.
If you can move the wheel, ball joints are gone bad. If you cannot sense ony clearance while rocking the wheel, it's probably not ball joints.
And be careful while changing ball joints: do disconnect front ABS sensors' terminals if you don't want get them damaged!
With best regards,
Yuri
If you can move the wheel, ball joints are gone bad. If you cannot sense ony clearance while rocking the wheel, it's probably not ball joints.
And be careful while changing ball joints: do disconnect front ABS sensors' terminals if you don't want get them damaged!
With best regards,
Yuri
