I have a E350 Super Duty (2wd) which I just replaced the ball joints and tie rod ends. I/m having trouble with the steering being stiff and the wheel not returning to center after a turn. I know this could be toe in but when installing the knuckle I noticed that the movement was very stiff and hard to turn, ( even before I attached the tie rods.)

Is this common? IS this a result of a cheapo ball joint? Will it break in? Could I have over torqued it?
Any help is appreciated.

 

Did you use the proper tools to put them in ?
Did you use greaseable ones?
It may break in or it may not .
If when putting them in the get skewed or over pressed they can be damaged.
But give them a week or so to see if they break in.

Rich

 

Two thoughts:

1) I've heard shops complain that the greasable moog joints are very stiff when new, causing the symptom you are describing. The have gone back to using the sealed Ford ball joints excusively.

2) Steering box lash adjustment two tight?

 

I just went through this same exact problem. The moog ball joints were super stiff. The steering wheel would not return. Replaced with moog again to see if was just a bad ball joint. Nope the second one was just as stiff. Replaced with Ford ball joint and it was fine. It was the lower ball joint that was stiff.

Funny, I had the left side replaced at 45K miles with moog and no problems. Right side replaced at 75K with moog and too tight.

I found the truck to be dangerous with the stiff ball joint. I drive a bunch on the highway. Making lane changes was a challenge. I did not want to wait to see if they would loosen up at all.

 

Thanks for the help. It seems that the problem is with the lowers. It's pretty nerve racking driving the curvey back roads of PA with this issue.

I used a c-clamp press to install them with no issues. My torque wrench wouldn't fit into the knuckle. So I just snugged them up with a large open end.
The set I replaced were Moog ,greaseable, with 40K on them . The set I just installed were some cheap "China" ball joints. I figured they couldn't be worse than teh Moog for lasting. Maybe I was wrong.
The local NAPA stocks TRW, has anyone had good luck with these?
Salt eats things up around here so I like to flush them with grease regularly.

What greasable brand of ball joint do you folks think is the best?