Repeated Ball Joint Replacement
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17
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From: Lansing, KS
Repeated Ball Joint Replacement
HELP!
04 F250 6.0L Crew Cab. Today she's getting the THIRD set of 4 ball joints in 13 months. This 2nd set is 5 months old.
No one seems to have a clue as to what is causing these multiple failures.
I have more mechanical understanding then I do knowledge (I'm female, please don't count that against me) but SOMETHING must be putting excessive wear/tear/pressure/cattywhompus on the joints (like the technical speak?)
Truck has only 51K, gets only a few miles a week on gravel otherwise all paved roads, regular service, and the only accident was when a dealer's driver backed a wrecker into it, putting a 'nice' ding in the hood when it was 4 months old. Hood replaced, no other damage.
THANKS!
04 F250 6.0L Crew Cab. Today she's getting the THIRD set of 4 ball joints in 13 months. This 2nd set is 5 months old.
No one seems to have a clue as to what is causing these multiple failures.
I have more mechanical understanding then I do knowledge (I'm female, please don't count that against me) but SOMETHING must be putting excessive wear/tear/pressure/cattywhompus on the joints (like the technical speak?)
Truck has only 51K, gets only a few miles a week on gravel otherwise all paved roads, regular service, and the only accident was when a dealer's driver backed a wrecker into it, putting a 'nice' ding in the hood when it was 4 months old. Hood replaced, no other damage.
THANKS!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
IMO the current ball joints on these heavy SDs are too small. If it were me up to me they would be bigger and beefier.
The PSD diesel is alot heavier than the gassers which adds more strain on the ball joints. However several sets of ball joints in a little over a year should never happen.
I've heard guys have them replaced at 25k miles, which should not have to be either.
All ball joints should have grease fittings. The rollers get dry and gritty eventually and start to go south.
The PSD diesel is alot heavier than the gassers which adds more strain on the ball joints. However several sets of ball joints in a little over a year should never happen.
I've heard guys have them replaced at 25k miles, which should not have to be either.
All ball joints should have grease fittings. The rollers get dry and gritty eventually and start to go south.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17
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From: Lansing, KS
Ball Joints
These are all Ford Factory, dealer installed ball joints.
I can't be much more specific on the type of failure beyond the fact inspection shows they're shot. This time I was told they're 'loose'. In May I brought it in for grinding noise when turning the wheel at slow speed (3 point turn, etc.) Sounded to me like the steering wheel pump (ex had a 70s model F150) but they found them toast again. That set had been installed the previous August.
I can't be much more specific on the type of failure beyond the fact inspection shows they're shot. This time I was told they're 'loose'. In May I brought it in for grinding noise when turning the wheel at slow speed (3 point turn, etc.) Sounded to me like the steering wheel pump (ex had a 70s model F150) but they found them toast again. That set had been installed the previous August.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 43
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From: In PA but work in NJ and
I had a dealer tell me that mine would not make the next state inspection (PA). One month later while rotating the tires I found that the axle bearing was bad, not the ball joint. It also made a bad grinding noise when turn at slow speeds. Soon it made alot of noise at all speeds (lol). But it got me home and I replaced it myself. Check to see about the bearings, cause 2 different techs said it was a ball joint. GOOD LUCK!
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
I do believe that there is a difference in quality of the replacements. have not replaced them on my 06 SD, but have replaced them on some of my other trucks & found that paying premium for the ball joints paid off. The axle bearing suggestion is a good thought too.
Good luck
Good luck
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17
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From: Lansing, KS
Thanks for the comment. Talked to my service mgr today; he said Ford has had some trouble with these joints and they've supposedly upgraded them. They'll inspect them every service stop so I can at least keep replacing them under warranty, which is some consolation. I'll definitely ask about checking the axle bearing. What 'premium' ball joints did you use?
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if nothing else get a scound opinion like an independnt front end shop them ford joints aint never gonna last long
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