Lower Ball Joint Warning !!
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Lower Ball Joint Warning !!
We just had our lower ball joint on the driver side completely shear off. Thank God that it was while I was backing out of a parking spot when the front wheel just dropped rather than on the road as I had my daughter with me.
We had only just started to get a minor squeak on that side. We have the truck serviced every 5K kms - 2001 S/C 4x4 with 120K kms.
I did a search on this site and noticed a few posts about noisy ball joints. From this experience, I would get these fixed asap. My mechanic went with new joints with grease fittings and it is quite reasonable.
Just wanted to warn you before it happens to someone else. The Ford dealer said that they have not seen this as a problem.
Happy Holidays.
Peter
We had only just started to get a minor squeak on that side. We have the truck serviced every 5K kms - 2001 S/C 4x4 with 120K kms.
I did a search on this site and noticed a few posts about noisy ball joints. From this experience, I would get these fixed asap. My mechanic went with new joints with grease fittings and it is quite reasonable.
Just wanted to warn you before it happens to someone else. The Ford dealer said that they have not seen this as a problem.
Happy Holidays.
Peter
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This very same thing happened to my brother in law's 99 2wd, his brother's 97 2wd, and a friend's 97 4wd. All failed with little or no warning and less than 100 Kms, (62500mi). I know the 2wd trucks were regularly maintained. I don't know alot about the 97 4wd.
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From: DFW, TX
I received a letter about a year ago from the dealer I bought my 99 f150 2wd from. It said take it in and have the ball joints inspected. Along with the letter was a technical sheet explaining what to check. I don't recall if there was a TSB or not. For anyone interested, the dealer was Friendly Ford in Las Vegas, NV
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Originally Posted by jcstratt
I received a letter about a year ago from the dealer I bought my 99 f150 2wd from. It said take it in and have the ball joints inspected. Along with the letter was a technical sheet explaining what to check. I don't recall if there was a TSB or not. For anyone interested, the dealer was Friendly Ford in Las Vegas, NV
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From: DFW, TX
Actually, I think it was tie rods and ball joints. The letter came from the dealer.
BTW, where in South TX are ya? I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley.
BTW, where in South TX are ya? I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley.
Last edited by jcstratt; Dec 13, 2004 at 09:17 PM.
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YEP RGV, Mission to be exact.
That sounds weird that the dealer would sent you a notice about this. Was it free?
That sounds weird that the dealer would sent you a notice about this. Was it free?
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From: DFW, TX
I lived in Mission back in '01...moved north of Ft Worth in '02...been here since.
I bought the truck in Vegas in '00 when I was in the military out there, left there towards the end of the year. I get stuff from them all them time, mostly trying to sell me a new one. I am sure it was from the dealer and not Ford directly.
I don't believe it was offered for free, but I don't know for sure. I checked it myself and threw the notice away. I still look at that stuff every time I rotate the tires, usually every other time I change the oil.
I bought the truck in Vegas in '00 when I was in the military out there, left there towards the end of the year. I get stuff from them all them time, mostly trying to sell me a new one. I am sure it was from the dealer and not Ford directly.
I don't believe it was offered for free, but I don't know for sure. I checked it myself and threw the notice away. I still look at that stuff every time I rotate the tires, usually every other time I change the oil.
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A lot of lube places (and other shops too) don't check ball joints properly on these trucks.
The truck has to be lifted with a jack under the lower control arm to unload the ball joint before checking for play.
The truck has to be lifted with a jack under the lower control arm to unload the ball joint before checking for play.
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Aside from the ball joints, what other suspension parts that needs to be regularly inspected? I already had the lower ball joints replaced last year. The upper ball joints were just been replaced a couple of weeks back.
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Originally Posted by KYFord
Any reason why it sheared off? Sounds like the Dodge recall.
When it happened, there was very little load on it. I was backing out and the wheel was turned only slightly. The front end just dropped (and with the 4x4, it really dropped) and was resting on the lower wishbone. Luckily, it happened when it was was slow enough that it didn't tear anything apart or even damage the body around the wheel well at all. I guess I should have taken some pictures though I did have him keep the ball joint as he suggested I send it to Ford for their review.
BTW, the only notice we received for the truck was for the tie rod end inspections.
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