Hey, all...

I have a '95 F250 4x4 gas pot, and the ball joints are shot on both sides, upper and lower. I'm looking for input on how to change them out myself. I know how to do basic re and re, but this is something I have never done, so anything I could learn now is a help. I have basic tools, so basic methods are appreciated. Have a good one, and anyone with a suggestion has a nice strong glass of Everclear waiting for them.

Check out Kamloops some time...

 

First off, welcome to FTE and happy Thanksgiving! I did this to my 95 F-150 about 8 months ago. I will warn you that it was not fun. My truck had 211,000 miles on it when I changed out the ball joints, so things were set in place pretty tight lol.

You have to tear the hubs apart and get the rotor and everything off the spindel shaft. There is a hidden lock ring washer that is in a groove on the spindel shaft, which I got out by using a pick. Once you get it all torn down (make sure you keep everything clean and in order), you need to loosten the big nut which I believe is on the bottom joint (or the top, or both, can't remember right off hand).

You also will want to pull the axle shaft out of the spindel. There are clips around the rubber boot which needs to be removed to be able to pull the axle shafts out. To be honest, while the axle shafts are out, might was well replace the U joints. Once you get the spindel off, you will either have to beat the old joints out, or have them pressed out like I did. Luckily my neighbor had a 30 ton snap-on press, which did the job easily.

Then once you get your new joints set in, make sure they are greased well, its just a matter of puttin it all back together. I'd recommend that you replace all wheel bearings and such and pack everything full of grease, so that you dont have to dig in there anytime soon.

Note: All the above is info about what I did to my F-150. Not 100% sure if the same will apply to your F-250.

Hope this gives you an idea where to start! Hopefully if I am mistaken somewhere, someone will correct me and help you out even further!

 

i agree with handyman's advice. i just put ball joints on a month ago. My truck has 130,000 miles and i had to heat about every one to get them out. Make sure you get greasable joints to put back in there (my factory ford ones werent greasable--no zurks). If your u-joints are questionable (mine were) I'd replace them why your in there with everything apart. The best advise would be to keep everything clean and organized. Good luck

 

Thanks, guys......thats a drink I owe ya...my dad is the old man at a machine shop, so he has unlimited access to all the facilities above and beyond the hydraulic press. That should simplify things for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Grizz

 

It seems all fords from the 80's and early-mid 90's have alignment problems. I did mine a while ago, maybe a year or so, but they pretty much said it.

Plus grease everything good, so if you still own the truck when they go bad its not back to the old torch to get them out. Plus, too much grease never hurt.