Ball joints
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Ball joints
Well today I find I have a bad ball joint. I had the front end lifted up to look for clunking noise and found my drivers side lower ball joint has some play in it. Its always something. It keesp me occupied on the weekends I guess. Anyway, the other 3 seemed ok but i'll probably do them all for good measure. I was searching on the advanced auto parts website and I see they have a couple of different brands. One considerably more expensive. Are they worth the extra cost?? Also, ive never done ball joints before. Ive been into the axle as far back as the hub. What tools am I going to need for this job? Any right ups around on this job?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
I don't know for 350's Ive not done a lot of work on solid axle trucks.
Just need ya a skettie fork and big hammer to beat em out. Unless you have a nice buddy who has a pnumatic one, they are the cats meow.
They will pop the ball joints out, then you just gotta pop new ones back in, and bolt it all together.
It was 300 dollars for me to ahve mechanic do it to my 91, and i had all 4 replaced.
I think i read one time that you should get new castle nuts, but I dont know how accurate that information is. I'd atleast put in new kotter pins though. They are cheep insurance incase one gets weak from the bending it off and to much rust.
I really suggest haveing a torch and an impact wrench.
Thats all I can think of. But i dont know much about strait axles, so i'm going from chebby fronts and TTB ford knowlege.
Just need ya a skettie fork and big hammer to beat em out. Unless you have a nice buddy who has a pnumatic one, they are the cats meow.
They will pop the ball joints out, then you just gotta pop new ones back in, and bolt it all together.
It was 300 dollars for me to ahve mechanic do it to my 91, and i had all 4 replaced.
I think i read one time that you should get new castle nuts, but I dont know how accurate that information is. I'd atleast put in new kotter pins though. They are cheep insurance incase one gets weak from the bending it off and to much rust.
I really suggest haveing a torch and an impact wrench.
Thats all I can think of. But i dont know much about strait axles, so i'm going from chebby fronts and TTB ford knowlege.
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"The cats meow" haha..
Thanks for the tips Tayln. I have no problem buying a tool to make my life easier. I have many years of fixing trucks ahead of me. It wont go to waste. Im not planning on doing this until the weekend so I have plenty of time to do my research and gather what I need.
-Steve
Thanks for the tips Tayln. I have no problem buying a tool to make my life easier. I have many years of fixing trucks ahead of me. It wont go to waste. Im not planning on doing this until the weekend so I have plenty of time to do my research and gather what I need.
-Steve
Last edited by F0rdF0rever; Nov 4, 2007 at 09:05 PM.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ashland City, TN
Better wait till the weekend bro.
Those nuts that hold the knuckles on dont always come of so easy.
Park it friday night, and soak everything with PB blaster after you get it up on jackstands and get the tires off.
Soak it in the mornin and go have breakfast, and come out and get to work.
Its a good day or 2 day job for sure if you have no expereince doing ball joints at all. Or with the area's your working with.
Those nuts that hold the knuckles on dont always come of so easy.
Park it friday night, and soak everything with PB blaster after you get it up on jackstands and get the tires off.
Soak it in the mornin and go have breakfast, and come out and get to work.
Its a good day or 2 day job for sure if you have no expereince doing ball joints at all. Or with the area's your working with.
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Well guys I FINALLY got to tackle the ball joints this past weekend. Im glad I waited to do it on a weekend. That was a ton of work. Spent all day in the garage and only got one side done! Not just ball joints though. I did the seals, bearings and the u joint while I was in there. The u joint was totally seized up. Probably why my 4x4 was so loud. I cant wait to do the other side. I took Taylns advice and soaked everything in PB the night before. Thanks Tayln, that helped for sure. Most of it came apart pretty easily. I had the help of some air tools though. The chiesel was a big help. Im confident the passenger side wont take me anywhere near as much time 
The first time is always slow.
The first time is always slow.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 50
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From: sprague, wa
Yeah those balljoints aren't much fun I just did a dana 60 swap into my f250 and we had the axle apart to swap gears and after I got it swapped and to les schwab for an alignment they told me I had a bad ball joint though I was back there in about 4 hours with one side changed and everything was good.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Cato Arkansas
how have yall got the ball joints out of the knuckles i bought the harbor frieght tool but it won't push hard enough to get them out and i don't have a press any ideas only opioion i have left is a machine shop on monday
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
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From: Ashland City, TN
Good job on getting the stuff done.
Its always good to do the 4x4 linkage while your in there and such. It's not to often you take the knuckles off, so mine as well do the seals and joints while your at it.
Its always good to do the 4x4 linkage while your in there and such. It's not to often you take the knuckles off, so mine as well do the seals and joints while your at it.
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From: Cato Arkansas
it was fairly easy to get it all apart just can't get the ball joints out also on my driver side tie rod end the piece that goes form the tie rod to the steering linkage has a small bend in it is this normal on these trucks