Changing the ball joints.
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From: Enka
Changing the ball joints.
Well, The sticking came back today so im gonna change my ball joints tomorrow. First time doing this, on any vehicle. lol. Anything i should look for? I got the fork for it and everything. Also, on my driver side lower ball joint, there isnt a grease point on it. Why is that? The passanger side has one. And the ones i got today both have them, Thanks in advanced!!
PS lol i forgot to say, My truck is an 84 f150 4.9 4X4
PS lol i forgot to say, My truck is an 84 f150 4.9 4X4
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From: Selkirk NY
When you go to the part store you are probably going to need to rent a ball joint press to press out the old and press the new ones in. Also you will probably need some heavy duty 1/2" drive sockets and at least a 20" breaker bar. I snapped a 18" breaker bar while changing mine on my 86 2wd. 
I ended up using a 24" breaker bar and a lot of muscle they were in there tight and didn't want to come out without a fight.
As far as the grease fittings go one of the ball joints may have been changed before. The new ones should come with them.
I also changed my tie rod ends while I was at it since things all tend to loosen up and wear out together. Or maybe I just tend to be overly cautious.
I ended up using a 24" breaker bar and a lot of muscle they were in there tight and didn't want to come out without a fight. As far as the grease fittings go one of the ball joints may have been changed before. The new ones should come with them.
I also changed my tie rod ends while I was at it since things all tend to loosen up and wear out together. Or maybe I just tend to be overly cautious.
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From: Selkirk NY
Yes, the separator will help to separate it from the other suspension components but they are still pressed into the spindle. I have seen guys use a BFH (Big Freakin' Hammer) and a torch to remove the old ones but without a press you are going to have a really hard time getting the new ones in.
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From: Enka
well, I didnt know that i had to pull the drive axle out just to get the ball joints out. And i already damager the upper one so i cant go back. The only problem is that the torx screws holding the locking up on, are stripped. What can i do??
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From: Enka
I got the hub off!! well atleast the front part. I got both springs and the snap ring out, but i can pull the rest out. I didnt see anything holding it in, any tips on this one? I had to drill the screws out, i hope my local bolt and screw place has the screws i broke off!!
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From: Enka
Anyone know what i can do? Heres what ive done so far.
Loosened the top ball joint and remoed the chamber.
Got the 6 screws out of the hub, and took the 2 springs and everything out, including the snap ring. Now, the rest, the outer 'ring' is grooved, so i got that huge socket with the 4 prongs on it and tried to loosen it, to no avail. What am i doing wrong?
Loosened the top ball joint and remoed the chamber.
Got the 6 screws out of the hub, and took the 2 springs and everything out, including the snap ring. Now, the rest, the outer 'ring' is grooved, so i got that huge socket with the 4 prongs on it and tried to loosen it, to no avail. What am i doing wrong?
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From: RI
That outer locknut is torqued down pretty hard so you might need to use a cheater bar on it. It can be awkward trying to hold it on while applying that much force at the same time...maybe you can get someone to help you for a moment. I use a 4 foot piece of pipe as a cheater that I can slide onto my breaker bar if needed.
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From: Enka
i tried that, but the dang socket kept on coming off the nut and rounding off some of it. im gonna get a pic up here soon, aybe i just need to beat the hell out of it to get it in, does it have to be in perfect shape when im done??
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From: RI
Okay, I misunderstood you, you still need to get that hub thing out (don't know the name of that assembly, and am at work, so can't look it up)...there's a lock ring that has to be taken out first. You probably can't see it with all the grease, but it's located on the inside wall of the outer housing, about 1/4" in from the edge. I push it out of it's groove with a precision screwdriver (pushing near one of the ends of the ring), then use another screwdriver to fish it out. Once it's out, that assemebly all comes out together, and you will see the lock nuts inside (and THEY are what you use the huge socket with the 4 prongs on).
When the outer ring comes out and frees up that assembly, pull the assembly out gently, keeping the two pieces together. Then just insert again when finishing up the job.
edited to say: I just sent you a pm, and you can contact me that way if you like. I'm up all night if you need more help.
When the outer ring comes out and frees up that assembly, pull the assembly out gently, keeping the two pieces together. Then just insert again when finishing up the job.
edited to say: I just sent you a pm, and you can contact me that way if you like. I'm up all night if you need more help.
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From: Enka
you'd figure they would make this easier to work on. im not sure what to do, my upper ball joint has a mushroom on it fro my hitting it with a hammer, i cant seem to get a good enough grip on it, i got a hook and pick set that im gonna try when it stops raining, it i cant get it, im gonna try to patch things up and make due whit what i got