upper ball joints
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upper ball joints
how in the ##### do you get those ball joints to go back in the hole? i cant seem to get them to go in straight. i have the ball joint press and the lower ones were much easier. any help would be greatly helpfull.
2000 2+4 4 cyclinder
2000 2+4 4 cyclinder
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I'm assuming you have the control arm suspension.
Here's the deal... You might have to buy the entire control arm. Why? FORD (O/E) control arms have the ball joint built in... MOTORCRAFT control arms have ball joints you can press out, but do not sell the ball joint seperately. MOST aftermarket (MOOG for example) control arms also have pressable ball joints, BUT they are a larger diameter than the motorcraft ones...
Therefore... you can only press in an aftermarket ball joint into an aftermarket control arm.
Of course this was about a year and a half ago I ran into this myself.. things may have changed since then.
Here's the deal... You might have to buy the entire control arm. Why? FORD (O/E) control arms have the ball joint built in... MOTORCRAFT control arms have ball joints you can press out, but do not sell the ball joint seperately. MOST aftermarket (MOOG for example) control arms also have pressable ball joints, BUT they are a larger diameter than the motorcraft ones...
Therefore... you can only press in an aftermarket ball joint into an aftermarket control arm.
Of course this was about a year and a half ago I ran into this myself.. things may have changed since then.
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From: Montague,Prince Edward Is
If the truck an "Edge" version, it has the same upper balljoints as the 4x4's, you have to change the upper control arm. But if it has coil spring front suspension, they are the press in syle. If you are having problems pressing it in ,if you have the time, throw the baljoint in the freezer for about two hours then try pressing it in.
P.S. Moog "Problem-solver" balljoints are identical to Motorcraft balljoints. Moog makes them for Motorcraft. "Ford Genuine" are made buy Spicer/Dana. Lifetime warrenty only buys you two balljoints. In other words they replace them once. F.Y.I.
P.S. Moog "Problem-solver" balljoints are identical to Motorcraft balljoints. Moog makes them for Motorcraft. "Ford Genuine" are made buy Spicer/Dana. Lifetime warrenty only buys you two balljoints. In other words they replace them once. F.Y.I.
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I disagree... moog may manufacture ball joints for motorcraft, but I wouldn't go as far as saying they are identical. I've never been able to install moog ball joints into a motorcraft control arm. And I've had several customers have their Moog ball joints replaced three.. four times.. a couple more and had been reimbursed by Moog for the parts (not labor).
Maybe warranty policies differ in different parts of the country.. <shrug>
Maybe warranty policies differ in different parts of the country.. <shrug>
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From: Cheswick, Pa.
I did my uppers back in May. Go very very slowly and as soon as you see it going in crooked, move your press (c-clamp) slightly toward the side that's not in far enough. That's how I corrected it - moved it a couple times during the press in. Once it's going in straight, press should be on the dead center of the ball joint.
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i put those moog problem solvers in a while back... how do you get those dirt boots on? i tried for a few hours, finally i took the other balljoint along with a boot to the shop i go to when i'm in a jam.... They couldn't even get it on... i ended up just cutting the ring, and ziptying it back in place and every few months i take a grease gun to em.
Last edited by monsterbaby; Oct 1, 2006 at 09:15 AM. Reason: to remove masked/mispelled fowl language to bypass language filters
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From: Cheswick, Pa.
In my note above I neglected to add my truck is a '99 4x2, 3.0 liter with an extended cab. Ford told me I had to buy the whole arm with the joint in it. A clerk at Advance Auto Parts called a seasoned mechanic he knew who swore this was not so. I bought only the ball joints, borrowed a press and pickle fork and everything went well.
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