Worn ball joints- oh no!!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, PA
Worn ball joints- oh no!!
Hello all,
I just had my truck in for state safety inspection this morning and they are telling me all four ball joints are shot. They showed me how they pryed up on the tire with a bar and the slop in each joint. They did say there is a limit of .040 but this looked more like .060-.125.
The truck has 65K and not used real hard. There is no lift kit but I do have All Terrain T/A's 285/75's on it. I also have a 1/2 mile long dirt/stone driveway that has some pot holes and such but otherwise it's street driven and I don't plow with it. I was wondering if this is normal wear?
2003 F-250 4WD 5.4L engine.
They wanted around $1000 to do the job with alignment for generic parts and $1300 for Moog joints. I thought that was totally out of line so now I'm trying to decide what to do. I called a local auto store and they only want $60 ea for the uppers and $90 ea for the lowers for Moog so right there I can see they were hitting me hard for the parts. I've done numerous ball joints on smaller cars but never on something this big.
Thanks for any and all advice!!
I just had my truck in for state safety inspection this morning and they are telling me all four ball joints are shot. They showed me how they pryed up on the tire with a bar and the slop in each joint. They did say there is a limit of .040 but this looked more like .060-.125.
The truck has 65K and not used real hard. There is no lift kit but I do have All Terrain T/A's 285/75's on it. I also have a 1/2 mile long dirt/stone driveway that has some pot holes and such but otherwise it's street driven and I don't plow with it. I was wondering if this is normal wear?
2003 F-250 4WD 5.4L engine.
They wanted around $1000 to do the job with alignment for generic parts and $1300 for Moog joints. I thought that was totally out of line so now I'm trying to decide what to do. I called a local auto store and they only want $60 ea for the uppers and $90 ea for the lowers for Moog so right there I can see they were hitting me hard for the parts. I've done numerous ball joints on smaller cars but never on something this big.
Thanks for any and all advice!!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 75
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From: Island KY
I own a shop and we have replaced them in trucks with as low as 45,xxx miles, not sure why but they are a problem on the ford trucks. I also think their price is high, we normally charge around $550 for the cheap ball joints or around $600 for moog. Good Luck.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: NW NJ
Yes, many 4X4 SuperDuty owners have needed to replace their balljoints, including me.
Many folks here have used this guide/photos, by our own RacerGuy to do the job in their driveway .... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html
There are many folks here that can answer questions you have.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
(I don't get hung up on the Moog joints. I use NAPA premium parts, and I don't think I've heard of any fail. Its always the non-greaseable oe joints.
I've done numerous ball joints on smaller cars but never on something this big.
There are many folks here that can answer questions you have.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
(I don't get hung up on the Moog joints. I use NAPA premium parts, and I don't think I've heard of any fail. Its always the non-greaseable oe joints.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
Word is the Moog are not as good as they were, made in China. Go with NAPA Premium Gold adn make sure they are greasable. I would say for a 2003, with a 5.4, thats about right wear for that year. 2005 and up seem to be a bit better, mine are at 55k miles and still good. Bet they will be done after the summer tow season and higher miles though.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, PA
Awesome thanks to everybody for letting me know my ball joint wear is normal. Thanks ironmine for positing the link to the procedure. I tried to search on ball joints but didn't get good results. I may just tackle the job myself now-great procedure from RacerGuy.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 54
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My 05 F250 CC 2WD 28,000 miles has been in the shop for the last 3 weeks (or is it 4-I cant remember) due to a clanking noise coming from what sounds to me like from the front supspension area. From what I have read on this forum, It sounds like ball joints which is what I have mentioned to the dealer but so far he has 1) replaced the guard on the exhaust pipe directly under the rear doors, 2) replaced clips on the front brake pads and now a driveshaft is on the way. Will report back if this fixes it-I have my doubts but Im no Ford mechanic and I dont have the factory tools,personel or support surrounding me so I would think they know what it is better than me. I hope so.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 588
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From: Bellville TX. Wof Houston
I just finished mine, 2000 SD 4x4. I replaced the wheel assembly also, and the seals.
it was a royal PITA. I'm sure if I had been better set up here at home it would have went smoother. I had impacts, stud removers, floor jacks and a vice, however it was a hard day.
also I think I broke my finger..
If some one would have done the job for me at 6 to 8 hundred I would have paid it.
Best of luck
it was a royal PITA. I'm sure if I had been better set up here at home it would have went smoother. I had impacts, stud removers, floor jacks and a vice, however it was a hard day.
also I think I broke my finger..
If some one would have done the job for me at 6 to 8 hundred I would have paid it.
Best of luck
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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the dealer called me today and said that my 04 with 46k needed all four replaced and that it was a little over $1000 dollars, but my extended warranty covers it with a zero deductible so it will not cost me anything, i guess that they will use ford parts.. i guess these trucks are so heavy that they just wear out quicker
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 8
From: WV
I got 'em from amazon.com. They had a good price and shipping was free. I was going to get the kit from powerstrokeshop but when I entered my address it showed $43.65 shipping!
Anyway, I bought the ball joints from amazon and the seals, o-rings, and needle bearings from FTE/PARTS-GUY.
Anyway, I bought the ball joints from amazon and the seals, o-rings, and needle bearings from FTE/PARTS-GUY.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Fort Fun
My 05 F250 CC 2WD 28,000 miles has been in the shop for the last 3 weeks (or is it 4-I cant remember) due to a clanking noise coming from what sounds to me like from the front supspension area. From what I have read on this forum, It sounds like ball joints which is what I have mentioned to the dealer but so far he has 1) replaced the guard on the exhaust pipe directly under the rear doors, 2) replaced clips on the front brake pads and now a driveshaft is on the way. Will report back if this fixes it-I have my doubts but Im no Ford mechanic and I dont have the factory tools,personel or support surrounding me so I would think they know what it is better than me. I hope so.
You might check the sway bar isolator bushings on the axle. Mine wore out and gave me the most annoying rattle, till I figured out what it was. The other thing you could check is the bushings on the swaybar links. Those could be the source as well.
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