Had my dealer do some 100k preventive & repairs servicing. Ball joints upper & lower, front wheel ends (one bad, replaced both), replaced both front wheel bearings while apart, pull transfer case, split & replace all seals (small leak tail & center case seal), trans fluid & filter, flush brakes to Dot 4 fluid. $3000 spent. Should be good til 200K now. Ball joints were not real bad but original. (3 years pushing snow) 2006 FX4 crew cab. I'm trying for 300k + on this truck.

 

How the hell did you get 100K miles on your ball joints....i did both uppers before 45000......

 

I guess that with stiffer Bilstein front shocks & having replaced the front coils with heavier rates, maybe less articulation of the joints. They were probably still good for several thousand more miles but with winter around the corner I did not want to mess with them. Dealer said the transfer case looked like the silicone bead was not applied right on assembly at the factory. It looked like in one spot it was applied over oil or dirt and did not get a good seal. Another project I wanted done before winter. I think the wheel end became non functional when the front end was taken apart to do the ball joints. I had the IWE module replaced two years ago from grinding and it took me several miles to figure out what was going on before I engaged 4x4 to stop it. Maybe some damage from that I don't know but I still plowed 2 years after that. I had greasable moog ball joints put in the lowers but only Ford offers the sealed uppers. Overall still cheaper to do all of this than to buy a new truck and start over. My goal is still 300K + unless rust or wreck. I did the front wheel bearing replacement since the front end was apart anyway. Bearings were about 180 per side for parts. One had a small flat spot but nothing unusual. They do get loaded with the plow on during transport. I thought about doing tie rod ends for preventative measures but they were good as new and the dealer said he has never replaced any to date on the newer F-150's.

 

Mine are original as well with 91,000 on them. Bought used though w/33,000.....might have been replaced, doubtful as this was a lease to a friend of the dealer.

 

I have 66k on mine with no noticeable wear. Drove my '93 Suburban 285k until I sold it two years ago. Only replaced once. Serviced regularly and had the ball joints checked along the way. Still running today. Granted I do not plow and do not 4-wheel to speak of.