ball joints
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15
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From: Ontario Canada
ball joints
Its time for the mule to get new ball joints. how easy to replace them?
Can I use a picke fork or do I need any special tools.
Shes a 94 F-150 4x4 short box with the 6 cyl
Cheers
Michael in Ontario Canada
Can I use a picke fork or do I need any special tools.
Shes a 94 F-150 4x4 short box with the 6 cyl
Cheers
Michael in Ontario Canada
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
Well the ball joints are not that bad to replace. Pull the wheel and hub assembly off, unbolt the steering arm, the uppe and lower ball joints, and drop the knuckle as you mentioned with the pickle fork. Now you need a special tool called a ball joint press. It looks like a giant c-clamp and can be rented at the local parts stores. It should come with instructions(hopefully because I dont feel like typing that much and without pictures i dont think I could do it without writting a novel, and the local parts guy probably wont know how to use it, but you never know). Press them in and reverse the removal process. MAKE SURE YOU GET AN ALIGNMENT AFTER, because ford uses a set of bushing on the upper ball joint to set the caster and camber angles, and will change when you install your new ball joints.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 55
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From: Kansas
It will depend on how rusted the ball joints are. They could be rusted together which is tough to get off, but if they aren't rusted together it should be a easy. The alignment is a must after that though.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15
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From: Ontario Canada
Well all is going good so far. I have a heated shop so Im nice and warm and not doing this outside in the freezing cold. I dont have a socket big enough to undo the old nuts on the ball joints. I have one big enough for the new ones but not the old. Is there any problem to cutting off the nuts with oxy aceteline. I have a torch/cutting set.
Michael
Michael
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
Dont hit the knuckle and you should be fine. You dont use the studs to press them out. I think for the price of gas and stuff, go and get the right size socket for the nut, and you can never have to many tools.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
I'd probably go get the socket...
The amount of heat needed would likely transfer to the knuckle and other areas through contact...who knows if it really would do anything but the right way to do it would be to go get the socket.
The amount of heat needed would likely transfer to the knuckle and other areas through contact...who knows if it really would do anything but the right way to do it would be to go get the socket.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by MustangGT221
Princess Auto eh....ha....do fairys shop there too? 
No luck here with breaker bars either.. but I have never owned a decent one. Those 1/2" drive units with the pivoting head snap like toothpicks.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Ontario Canada
Ok one side is out once I went to princess auto and got an 1 1/8 1/2 drive socket and a breaker bar.
I drove the nuckle down and she popped right off. I took it over to the vice and with a good mallet drove them out. So Im assuming I have to press the new ones in??
The new ones have grease nipples on them. smart move.
III update in a bit. I have some parenting (babysitting) to do, My wife has gone shopping to buy me lots of presents. I bought her a new random speed buffer for christmas :}
I drove the nuckle down and she popped right off. I took it over to the vice and with a good mallet drove them out. So Im assuming I have to press the new ones in??
The new ones have grease nipples on them. smart move.
III update in a bit. I have some parenting (babysitting) to do, My wife has gone shopping to buy me lots of presents. I bought her a new random speed buffer for christmas :}
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 588
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From: Bellville TX. Wof Houston
yes the new ones do have to be pressed in.
now how you got the old ones out with out the press tool is beond me.
if in your area the auto stores have the tool loan program that's where I got the tool to press them in and out..
it's a snap
now how you got the old ones out with out the press tool is beond me.
if in your area the auto stores have the tool loan program that's where I got the tool to press them in and out..
it's a snap
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB Canada
If they were that loose that you hammered them out, then i would be worried about the hole in the knuckle being egg-shaped since it is supposed to be a very tight press fit. Get the tool so you dont damage your new ball joints and make sure that the upper ball joint has a 90 degree grease fitting or you will probably not be able to grease the upper without pulling the axle shaft, which really means it will go un greased.