Ball joints or Leaves
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 145
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Ball joints or Leaves
I have a 99 f-250sd, my problem is that the front sits lower than the rear, it drives like a big truck, good and stable but you can just tell by looking that the front tires are leaning in. I am almost certain that this is a ball joint issue because that is the only place that could make the tires lean in at the top. My main question is if i replace the ball joints, will that level it out. it has roughly 96,000 miles on it it is a fourwheel drive with a 5.4 gas V8. Any help is appreciated!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 3
From: Lexington Mo
Check suspension
If you're tires are leaning in at the top you may have worn front suspension parts, like ball joints. Raise the truck with a floorjack from under the lower control arm. Push in at the top of the tire. If you have movement there you have a worn upper balljoint.
Take a prybar, place it under the tire, and pry up trying to raise the tire. If you have movement there, you have lower balljoint wear.
If all checks out well. Then you need a good alignment. You have negative camber (leaning in at top of tire)> You will be told you need a camber/caster bushing. Who everdoes the alignment should carry that bushing.
Bob
Take a prybar, place it under the tire, and pry up trying to raise the tire. If you have movement there, you have lower balljoint wear.
If all checks out well. Then you need a good alignment. You have negative camber (leaning in at top of tire)> You will be told you need a camber/caster bushing. Who everdoes the alignment should carry that bushing.
Bob
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 807
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From: Houston, TX
I'd make a guess that his truck should sit pretty close to level (assuming good ball joints, etc). The gassers sit higher in the front than the powerstrokes.
A buddy of mine with an 01 V10 4x4 sits almost level. He's only about 1/2" lower in the front, as compared to my PSD, which sat right at 2" lower in the front.
A buddy of mine with an 01 V10 4x4 sits almost level. He's only about 1/2" lower in the front, as compared to my PSD, which sat right at 2" lower in the front.
