Replaceing ball joints

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Jun 28, 2005 | 11:03 AM

convincor

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Replaceing ball joints

1999 super duty
Does the spindle have to come off for the axle shaft to come out?
My older 250's the axle came out first, but u-joints were much smaller.

Jun 28, 2005 | 11:26 AM

tjbeggs

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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI

Yes the hub bearing needs to come off so you can get the axle out of the knuckle then you can remove the knuckle and get the ball joint out. to get them off you need to remove the hub then snap rings then i think there are 3 or 4 bolts that hold the hub bearing onto the knuckle. they may be a 12 point head. so you will need a 12 point socket. can't remember all the specific since is being a few months since i had one apart.

hope that helps
tim

Jun 28, 2005 | 11:31 AM

SpringerPop

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From: La La Land

A related question:

If I want to grease my spindle bearings, do I also need to remove the hub?

Pop

Jun 28, 2005 | 11:56 AM

touchofgrey

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SpringerPop

A related question:

If I want to grease my spindle bearings, do I also need to remove the hub?

Pop

Pop.....this is another of the great engineering feats from Ford. The hub is sealed....no realistic way to lub or clean the bearings. There is a hub nut on the back side, and it is threaded......they build them, so that's how it's put together. But without the torque specs., it would probably be a crap shoot as far as it staying together after your done. I'm sure they have figured out how much of a bearing preload it takes etc.. They probably want us to stay out of there because the ABS sensor wheel is inside
, and they don't want a liable suit or something if one came apart. I'm sure there is some lawyer logic involved. I've seen a thread where they were trying to use a grease needle to get some grease in there.....but it looked like they had more on the outside then the inside. Just my humble observations.

Jun 28, 2005 | 12:32 PM

SpringerPop

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From: La La Land

I wasn't referring to the main wheel bearings, which I know to be sealed, but the spindle bearings that are between the axle and the hub, that allow the hubs to turn on an axle that's not (when not in 4WD).

Pop

Jun 28, 2005 | 02:14 PM

miker67

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Yes you do have to remove the hub to grease the bearings you are referring to. They are little needle bearings that the only way you can do anything to them is pull the hub and rub some in by hand. The most aggravating part of the whole job is removing that little snap ring. If the tips on your pliers are worn, do yourself a favor and buy a new set before you start or you will have a fit.
Here is a link to an awesome link with pictures showing how the author did his balljoints. Everything in the writeup is right on the money.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=354091