Ball joints
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Portage, MI
Ball joints
Some people say to use a ball joint press and some dont. What are you guys thoughts on this....should i rent one or can i do it without. Im gonna tackle this project this afternoon.
THANKS!!!
THANKS!!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Taylors, SC
I used an OTC ball joint press with the super duty adapter kit on my 04 4x4. I bought it off Amazon. Unless I had taken the knuckles to a machine shop, I don't know how else you could have done it. By the way, I used the Moog uppers and lowers instead of the Ford replacement parts. They had better reviews than the Fords.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 705
Likes: 40
I think the press is pretty much mandatory unless you use heat, which you should not do. Good choice on the Moog parts, keep them greased and they will last a lot longer than the originals. Make sure to have the alignment checked when you're finished. Mine
(2WD, YMMV) caused no change to the Caster or Camber but did effect the toe which resulted in a lot of wandering on the highway. A quick toe-in adjustment and it was fine again. I'm not sure how the solid front axle in the 4WD reacts but toe-in is very critical on my 2WD Excursion. It needs to be exactly right on (within specs is not good enough) or it wanders all over the road at highway speeds.
Lou Manglass
(2WD, YMMV) caused no change to the Caster or Camber but did effect the toe which resulted in a lot of wandering on the highway. A quick toe-in adjustment and it was fine again. I'm not sure how the solid front axle in the 4WD reacts but toe-in is very critical on my 2WD Excursion. It needs to be exactly right on (within specs is not good enough) or it wanders all over the road at highway speeds.
Lou Manglass
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 5
From: Northern CA
Don't know if you've seen this or not but worth a look-see.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,637
Likes: 37
From: Lost in Pa.
You need to use a press or like what was said - take knuckles to machine shop and have pressed out and in. I used the press from advanced auto and it worked fine and the nice thing is you get your money back when you return it 
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 705
Likes: 40
"Manglass what is the part number for the 2WD ball joints?"
Lower = K80027
Upper = K80028
Lou Manglass
Lower = K80027
Upper = K80028
Lou Manglass
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