Upper & Lower Ball Joint Replacement
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Upper & Lower Ball Joint Replacement
I have a '99 2wd Explorer with 53,000 miles and ALL boots are torn. Garage kept and not abused. Just can't believe they are torn and have to be replaced. Has anyone replaced the lower ball joints with the control arms still on the car with the torsion bars in place and using a floor jack under the control arm. And then using the ball joint press tool that Autozone loans out. Should not be a problem as long as the loaner press tool works. Also has anyone had experience with Autozone's brand Duralast suspension parts?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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i just did all 4 ball joints on my 2000 xls 4WD. I just bought a ball joint press set for 99 bucks as long as auto zone set is good for 4WD it will be fine. I just put a jack under the lower control arm it worked just fine. The hardest part is the bolts on the drivers side upper control arm a real pain to get in and out. As far as witch ball joints to buy i only buy moog when it comes to front end parts a little more money but they are the best and will last for ever. With the moog upper control arm\ball joint you can just change the ball joint if you ever do need to change the ball joint again.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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The lowers you really don't need a press for.. just jack it up under the control arm.
Remove the wheel knuckle and C-clip.. and just hammer the old one out..
Put the new one in place and tap it lightly on the stud (with the old nut started a couple turns) until it is in just far enough so it doesn't fall out.
Lower the control arm until the stud (with the old nut started on it) touches the floor and you see the control arm just start to compress (if your worried about damaging your floor place a piece of wood under it)... now tap on the very end of the control arm, and it should work the ball joint into place.. if it doesn't go all the way, lower the vehicle a little more and tap some more... once it's in jack the car up, remove the old nut, reinstall everything, and then install the nut that came with the new ball joint. (if you do not put a nut on the stud a couple threads, you will damage the ball joint)
Good luck
Remove the wheel knuckle and C-clip.. and just hammer the old one out..
Put the new one in place and tap it lightly on the stud (with the old nut started a couple turns) until it is in just far enough so it doesn't fall out.
Lower the control arm until the stud (with the old nut started on it) touches the floor and you see the control arm just start to compress (if your worried about damaging your floor place a piece of wood under it)... now tap on the very end of the control arm, and it should work the ball joint into place.. if it doesn't go all the way, lower the vehicle a little more and tap some more... once it's in jack the car up, remove the old nut, reinstall everything, and then install the nut that came with the new ball joint. (if you do not put a nut on the stud a couple threads, you will damage the ball joint)
Good luck
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