Hi Guys,
Ive made a post in the suspension section,and figured Id throw it out here as well...On my 97 F-150,every time I turn the steering wheel,it squeals like a stuck pig.I looked at the ball joint boots,and theyre pretty much squashed flat.I did see that the lower ones had grease fittings in them that I didnt think the factory did.
At any rate,I looked on rockauto.com for the joints,and it appears that theyre held in with big "C" clips...Im assuming that these clips are removed,and the joint pressed out?
Ive got a buddy with a shop,rack,and tools from hell.Guess the question is should I tackle this myself? Ive got spring compressers,Ball joint fork etc,and years back replaced the ones on my 70 Mustang.They however(if memory serves) were rivited in,and the replacement came with nuts/bolts to re-install...Thoughts/suggestions appreciated

 

the F150 are pressed in. you can borrow a ball joint press from Auto Zone if you get the ball joints there. i will post the procedure next.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...f-150-4x4.html

 

Hey your drive shaft univerals may be dry as a bone, I'm just sharing what I found after what you described on my truck. See if they'll take a shot of greese, can't hurt. Mine were so dry and would take any greese I had to put new ones in, now no more squeals. Good luck

 

Ive looked over the drive shaft joints,theyre ok,this squealing is going on sitting still,as well as driving....Actually its less when moving(which makes me think Ball Joints)

 

Thanks for that great post,Mine is a 2WD,but I can extrapolate the differences....

 

Mine did the same thing sitting still... But as well the factory sealed ball joints I greesed to, by piercing the rubber with a greese needle.... I know thats hacking,,, but times are tuff!

 

It may be your steering tie rod ends. Your lower joints def have been replaced before. It may also be the upper joints and theose have to be replaced with the entire upper control arm. See if you can jack up the front one side at a time and you may be able to narrow it doen that way. I hat e to have you throw money at it, especially this day in age!
Rich

 

Don't you just love how the automakers put on parts like these with no grease fittings so that you can not maintain them? I know that you can go the extra mile and install your own but why should you have to? For the price of our trucks they should come fitted with grease fittings.

I actually just replaced by upper control arms yesterday, both sides. I went to AutoZone and they had them at $69.99 a piece. They also came with grease fittings installed so you can keep the ball joints greased over time.

I contacted the dealership I purchased my truck at to see how much they wanted to change them out, trying to save myself a little work. They wanted almost $600.00, so it was definitely worth doing myself. That price did include the two parts which they wanted $114.00 a piece for, with no grease fittings.

If you do replace your upper control arms, make sure you get a Pittman Arm Remover. It will run you about $15 bucks and it pops that arm right out and you just loosen two bolts up above. By the way, don't forget to use something like a jack to hold up the lower control arm while your taking off and putting on the upper control arm.

 

this is a common problem on '97s , you have a bad pitman arm.