My truck has 71,000 on it and I have been getting some rattles in the front end. I thought it was the ball joints but my local service shop (not a Ford garage) put it on the rack and checked it out. They said that the ball joints did in fact need to be replaced but that also the sway bar links were loose. They took me out to the shop and showed me and they were both moving and when they moved, they did seem to rattle. I know that they are supposed to give but I couldn't determine if it was them that was rattling or if it was the ball joints or something on the rack/hoist.

Anyway, they told me that to replace the ball joints, sway bar links, alingment and to turn the rotors and install 4 sets of new pads would be over $1,100. Gulp. I know that I can do the brakes myself. I will probably visit our FTE friend ART for brakes and do it myself. But to do the ball joints and sway bar links will still be close to a grand. They told me the sway bar links were about $160 per set (aftermarket, not Ford, parts only).

So with all of this rambling, my question really comes down to the sway bar links. Has anyone had to replace the sway bark links? It looks to be a fairly simple job unless there is some trick to it that I don't see. Also, is 70k a reasonable mileage to replace them at? I suppose that it doesn't really matter if it is reasonable or not - if they need done, they need done.

And with the ball joints, I know that it is detailed here on the Site but it is not a project I plan on doing. There is another shop in town that quoted me $210 for right side upper and lower ball joints (MOOG) and alignment.

They direction I am leaning is to do just the right side ball joints at the cheaper shop (they still do good work), and if they tell me the left side needs done, then fine, I will have them do it. If they determine that the sway bar links are bad too, I will need to decide if I do that myself or just have them do it while it is up in the air. (Leaning towards having them do it)


Your thoughts?

EDIT: I suppose this could/should have gone in the superduty forum. No?

 

Sway bar link bushings are available from energy suspension. I just ordered a set from fourwheel parts for $25. Mine went bad on driver side from leaking brake master cylinder @ 95000 miles

 

Kingkeith,
Was it much of a job to change them? What told you they were bad? Was it a rattling noise or something else? I know that brake fluid is pretty corrosive and would likely eat them up.

Big

 

very easy to change. i bought OEM links for mine. The mounting bolts on mine were bent and the bushing wasd shot. course my truck in on 35's 6"lift.
i changed mine at 115000 miles.

 

Energy Suspension bushings on mine, part number 5.5186G. This set is the Super Duty specific set available from NAPA as well as others. The stock links are rubber which being organic degrade over time. The Energy Suspension parts are graphite impregnated polyurethane and are a durometer that closely resembles the stock pieces. The two pieces that hold the sway bar to the axle are easily changed with a 15mm socket. The end link bushings have to be pressed in/out. The Energy parts are lifetime parts; you will only change them once. The Super Duty bushings are black, beware the red Energy Suspension bushings which are much harder in durometer and are usually greasable because they squeak if they aren't greased; you don't want those.