Everyone know how poor Ford's ball joints are on Super Duties. Especially with the lack of a zerk fitting.

Well today I took my truck to my local mechanic for some routine service and a pulling/drifting issue and a inspection sticker. The service was sinmple, just a fuel filter and tranny flush and refill. The pulling/drifting issue was sure to be thought a caliper was hanging up or the pins were binding. He thought it was likely too. They took the truck for a test drive and it was re-affimed again it very well could be a caliper. They cleaned and lubed everything and the problem persisted.

Can anyone guess what the problem ended up being?

you got it! wore out upper and lower left side ball joint. My truck has 57K miles on it. It has lived a cushy life. Never off-road and tow maybe 1-2 times per year. Top it all off he could not have given me a sticker due to the ball joint. So I fix it next week before the month is out and I am past due for the inspection.

The lack of the gall darn zerk fitting is costing me $532 for parts, labor, and alignment.

Next truck will be getting a ESP for it. And a 100K mile one at that. Ball joints twice is $1100 and never mind anything else that goes wrong.

VENT OVER!

 

Only way to beat ? is do it yourself.
We've done plenty on here.
While there in there make sure they lube the needlebearings at the hub
Rich

 

You can get replacements with the zerk fitting

 

Know what you mean about these OEM ball joints. Purchased my 2003 SD last Nov. '05 with high miles. Anyway,,,had an Oasis Report run on it...and the ball joints were replaced at 35,400 miles. Just before the basic warranty was ending.

After the purchase...I decided to be safe and have the truck checked out...and do the recommended maintenance...I took it into my local ford dealer...and they wanted $1100.00 ($95.00/hr labor) to replace upper/lower ball joints. They were bad...Again?!? WTF...

Of course...I did not allow them to do the work...and had an independent Garage do it. MOOG are good replacements...at least they have the fitting!

Good luck...

biz

_______________________________
2003 F250 SD SC 142" XLT FX4 V10 Auto 4x4 3.73s

 

I don't know Michael - it seems to come in bunches like grapes sometimes. If I ever have to replace the BJ's ( ) on my truck I'll have to breakdown and get the greasable type. Why Ford do the the things they do to us...I'll never know.

 

To save some pennies...

It might not even be Ford, but Dana ... who puts the spindles on the front-end? Dana? Or Ford?

 

I'm gonna go with Ford - or they spec it that way anyway.

 

I was talking to a Ford tech about that and when the local Ambulances come in for ball-joint replacements they decided to put some in with the grease fittings. Guess what? Didn't help. Must just be a poor design...

-Matt

 

so wandering could mean bjs? I am at 13K miles and figured I just knocked my front end out of alignment. I am definately taking this thing in with 35K.

 

Im my case it did. I have been fighting the wandering and pulling to the left upon braking for 6-8 months. I posted shot at 57K but actually it was like 45K miles.

 

my 1995 f350 never had a prob with its front end, even after 166k miles, thats off-roading and everything. why did they decide to waste money redesigning the front end if it worked so well in the first place?

 

You're not talking about that independant-suspension 4x4 front-end are you?

Put a plow on one... and watch the tires wear on the inside... and wheels cambered way out when the springs get weak, etc.

 

no, the early 90's f350's all had d60 straight axels on them, i never heard of anyone having a prob with them like i do now.

 

My estimate for all 4 ball joints was $522.00 including the alignment. That did not include the all axle seals, O-rings, etc. that ended up costing me (with a good discount) $64.00 extra. I bought all 4 Moog greasable ball joints with a lifetime warranty for $180.00 + tax and did the work myself in a few hours. I saved myself $200.00 in proposed labor costs and about $100.00 for the ball joints themselves. With very detailed instructions I found on this site it was time consuming but very simple. Given the money saved it was well worth it!!!

 

Same thing with my 2000 Superduty PSD...at about 64,000 miles..I had the replace ALL the ball joints while they had it torn apart with liftime warranty heavy-duty ball joints....cost me about the same too $520

Scott