Ball Joints....AGAIN
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 83
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From: Williamsburg, VA
Ball Joints....AGAIN
High all, its been a while since my last post. Been very busy at work. Very little time for fun stuff. Anyway, I just had my X inspected last week, and I was told I needed a new lower left ball joint again. It was just replaced 7 months ago. The shop is great, been doing work on my rides for many many years, and they are gonna fix it and replace the part under warranty, i only have to pay labor. My mechanic says the weight of the truck and how the front end is designed is the problem, he replaces them all the time. He used Moog parts last time, which I thought were good parts. Anyone know of a better or "bullet proof" ball joint that I won't have to replace twice a year. Also, any thoughts on ones with grease fitting vs. ones without. The Moog ones he put in last time didnt have any grease fittings.
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 449
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From: North Texas
Woe, woe, woe, 
is the one who has to replace ball joints.
So has anyone done ball joints themselves? I'm thinking about tackling it myself, but dunno what's involved.
======
Later correction... found a link all about doing it myself. We'll see how it goes.
is the one who has to replace ball joints.So has anyone done ball joints themselves? I'm thinking about tackling it myself, but dunno what's involved.
======
Later correction... found a link all about doing it myself. We'll see how it goes.
Last edited by NewXer; Feb 2, 2006 at 10:17 PM.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: BC, Canada
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: Windsor, CO
Not that hard. Being in the Rockcrawling crowd, I do my fair share of axle rebuilds. Actually, I do them all the time. Its tedious, and annoying, but will save you tons of money. A ball joint press can be "borrowed" from your local part store. Basically, you buy it, and then as long as you return it in good condition they return your money. Its their loaner tool program. Pep Boys, Auto Zone, and Kragen/Checker all do it.
I use mine so much that I just ended up keeping. $100 is worth it.
I use mine so much that I just ended up keeping. $100 is worth it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by V10_X
Anyone know of a better or "bullet proof" ball joint that I won't have to replace twice a year. Also, any thoughts on ones with grease fitting vs. ones without. The Moog ones he put in last time didnt have any grease fittings.
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1
From: Coal Valley, Illinois
Originally Posted by V10_X
High all, its been a while since my last post. Been very busy at work. Very little time for fun stuff. Anyway, I just had my X inspected last week, and I was told I needed a new lower left ball joint again. It was just replaced 7 months ago. The shop is great, been doing work on my rides for many many years, and they are gonna fix it and replace the part under warranty, i only have to pay labor. My mechanic says the weight of the truck and how the front end is designed is the problem, he replaces them all the time. He used Moog parts last time, which I thought were good parts. Anyone know of a better or "bullet proof" ball joint that I won't have to replace twice a year. Also, any thoughts on ones with grease fitting vs. ones without. The Moog ones he put in last time didnt have any grease fittings.
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
Junior User
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Southern Tier New York
Originally Posted by hink10
I just replaced mine with Moogs, the uppers and lowers have grease fittings. The upper grease fitting have to be removed after you grease them. There is not enough clearance to keep them on, the u-joint would hit them. They come with a cap to install after you remove the fitting. Look at yours and see if they have caps, if so just get a 90 degree grease fitting.
BTW... why is a SDer in the X forum? I'm on a quest to replace my SD with an X...
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Originally Posted by V10_X
I was told I needed a new lower left ball joint again. It was just replaced 7 months ago. The shop is great, been doing work on my rides for many many years, and they are gonna fix it and replace the part under warranty, i only have to pay labor. My mechanic says the weight of the truck and how the front end is designed is the problem, he replaces them all the time. He used Moog parts last time, which I thought were good parts. Anyone know of a better or "bullet proof" ball joint that I won't have to replace twice a year. Also, any thoughts on ones with grease fitting vs. ones without. The Moog ones he put in last time didnt have any grease fittings.
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
This just might be a pipe dream,, but years ago the dealer that did all my work told me I needed A frame bushings on a car with 18,000 miles. Then told me if not replaced the tires would wear on the inside. True they did wear on the inside and while traveling I took the car to another shop. The alignment guy showed me how far the toe in had been set off causing the tire wear. I asked about the A frame bushings and he said they were ok,, I did eventually replace the A frame bushings myself at 115,000 miles. So no matter how much you "think your dealer is straight up with you" buyer beware and check closely. If you decide to have them replaced I would mark the old joints and then check after the work is completed to confirm they were replaced. Moog makes good parts and I really don't think the front end is designed that poorly. My has 129,000 miles and origional ball joints and they were inspected by me and my front end guy and they are still solid.
So my reco is to be cautious. Jim
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 855
Likes: 1
I also do understand your issue with ball joints. I have gone through 2 sets with 147K miles on my 2000X Diesel. I can tell you a ball joint without a grease fitting is going to wear faster. I am on the edge of replacing once again drivers side do to a pull on my side and alignment is dead on. It is a bad joint making me pull towrds drivers side. As for which brand is best I rally could not tell you since I do not know what kind of drving and wear and tear you do with your X. If you do some offroad driving they will probably wear a little more do to the front end of the X. Kee em greased and they will last longer. I have mine greased every oil change . Mine as well since your under it anyway
New User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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How can you tell that they've gone bad? I've got a bad cluncking noise on both sides of the front end only on slow turns. I've jacked it up and everyhing feels tight. Help
Last edited by azvazquez; Mar 15, 2007 at 07:46 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 855
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I eat hybrids is exactly right. You will hear a sqeaking in the front.If it is drivers side it is usually down near your left foot near the emergency brake. Gotta hate the ball joints on these trucks. I know I do.