2004 ball joints going bad?
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2004 ball joints going bad?
I have a 2004 F-250 4X4 with 40,000 miles. I do my own oil changes, and I grease the front end every time I change oil (5000 miles).
Last week, my truck started making a squeaking sound when turning the steering wheel. It is best discribed as the noise similar to what a swing set sounds like when swinging.
Today, a couple of buddies and I were trying to diagnose this and it appears to be the left side ball joints.
I have the original tires on this truck, and it is worked hard, but babied. I have had it off road a couple of times but nothing abusive. Seems to me 40K is premature...
Anyway, the ball joints are still tight. Is it possible to drill those ball joints and add grease fittings? Would this remedy my issues?
Thank you in advance for any help offered.
Last week, my truck started making a squeaking sound when turning the steering wheel. It is best discribed as the noise similar to what a swing set sounds like when swinging.
Today, a couple of buddies and I were trying to diagnose this and it appears to be the left side ball joints.
I have the original tires on this truck, and it is worked hard, but babied. I have had it off road a couple of times but nothing abusive. Seems to me 40K is premature...
Anyway, the ball joints are still tight. Is it possible to drill those ball joints and add grease fittings? Would this remedy my issues?
Thank you in advance for any help offered.
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From: Edmonton, AB.
Is it still under warranty? I just had my right side ball joints, drag link & rod end replaced on my F350. My truck gets mostly highway miles and a little off road. Nothing tough. My dealer said to get the left side checked before the extended warranty is up. I was told they won't usually do both sides at once or FMC will investigate for abuse. The symtoms were steering was fighting me at low speed. Couldn't keep a straight line. I checked my ball joint and they seemed tight. It wasn't until they pulled the front end apart that they found bad and seized joints.
Last edited by conger; Sep 30, 2006 at 11:09 PM.
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From: Peoria Illinois
I just had mine done, both sides, on an '03 F250 with 49,500 miles. They also did the tie rod end at the pitman arm. My extended warranty covered it. They did have an adjuster come take a look and approve it first. I had the same symptoms as well, squeaking in turns.
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Same problem with my 04 SD, according to the Ford mechanic who was very nice and straight forward with me they are replacing these SD ball joints constantly, they are no good and Ford knows it. Especially the lower ones. My truck has 26K on it with mostly highway miles and very little off road use, mostly dirt roads in state parks etc. No plowing. Still, shot before 26k!
I would not have even known except for a good mechanic when putting new tires and wheels ( another story ) told me that I should get back to Ford with my driver side ball joint especially , he rocked my wheel back and forth while up in the air and said this side is shot and the other is close behind. The driver side they replaced but said he did not hear the squelling for the other side, so I brought it back to them and showed him. They replaced the pass side lower after hearing it and the noise is gone.
I questioned why not replace the upper's too and they said had no indications they were bad, besides they last a long time, rarely have to be replaced until a truck is much older.
I would not have even known except for a good mechanic when putting new tires and wheels ( another story ) told me that I should get back to Ford with my driver side ball joint especially , he rocked my wheel back and forth while up in the air and said this side is shot and the other is close behind. The driver side they replaced but said he did not hear the squelling for the other side, so I brought it back to them and showed him. They replaced the pass side lower after hearing it and the noise is gone.
I questioned why not replace the upper's too and they said had no indications they were bad, besides they last a long time, rarely have to be replaced until a truck is much older.
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BadHabitinVA,
Drilling, taping and installing greasefittings will make the noise go away but it doesn't last long before its replacement time, about 3-5k miles. I did it on my 03 and its not worth the hassel.
If your SD is no longer under warranty and you would like to try it yourself,
Go back a couple of pages and look for :
"How to replace your Super Duty Ball Joints" by Racerguy
Great instructions!!
Drilling, taping and installing greasefittings will make the noise go away but it doesn't last long before its replacement time, about 3-5k miles. I did it on my 03 and its not worth the hassel.
If your SD is no longer under warranty and you would like to try it yourself,
Go back a couple of pages and look for :
"How to replace your Super Duty Ball Joints" by Racerguy
Great instructions!!
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Or you can do what the fellows at OK Four Wheel Drive told me I should do once I am off warranty, replace them with after market units from Spicer and or another brand he said but I can't remember. They do it all the time for hard use Ford trucks and have had no problems since making the switch for their customers. The units you get from Ford or one of their stock suppliers have had problems literally since they went to the sealed units and they can't seem to get it right.
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Thats what I did and will do again if it happens under warranty, but when that puppy expires I am going with Spicer or similar greaseables. Guys plowing and using those in commercial purposes report good ride and long life
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