Ball joint Play
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 304
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From: Connecticut
Ball joint Play
re: 99 XLT 4x4
When I raised my front ends to change tires, I used the supplied jack which I used on lower arms as instructed.
Now I've been told by Sears Tech (and was not charged at all btw) that I have lower ball joint play, at the time, still within spec.
For the light of me, I couldn't make it move, or have the ball joint play. Could it be, I need to jack the vehicle in the frame?
Very interested to find-out how bad the play is, since if weather permits, I might change my pads, and given the tip I read the other day about ball-joint replacement without torsion bar removal (and instead thru the knuckle/shaft assembly), this may be a good opportunity for replacement.
Thanks for any help
When I raised my front ends to change tires, I used the supplied jack which I used on lower arms as instructed.
Now I've been told by Sears Tech (and was not charged at all btw) that I have lower ball joint play, at the time, still within spec.
For the light of me, I couldn't make it move, or have the ball joint play. Could it be, I need to jack the vehicle in the frame?
Very interested to find-out how bad the play is, since if weather permits, I might change my pads, and given the tip I read the other day about ball-joint replacement without torsion bar removal (and instead thru the knuckle/shaft assembly), this may be a good opportunity for replacement.
Thanks for any help
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: MA
I read somewhere recently that the ball joints should be replaced when they have an 1/8" of play. Recently I took my exp in for an oilc hange at the Ford dealer and they told me I was in desperate need of lower ball joints. I checked them and found some play, but not 1/8" in one which I replaced at 87000 miles. I could have easily gone to 100000. To check mine, I jacked up the vehicle on the lower control arm, placed a bar under the wheel and had someone raise and lower the bar against the tire, while I observed the ball joint. If you try to check the ball joint by yourself it is somewhat difficult to feel/see a small amount of play.
