Ball Joint Replacement...
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,940
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From: Southern Oregon Coast
Ball Joint Replacement...
OK so, I took my truck in to have the front-end wheel alignment checked (just the toe-in was all I wanted to have checked) and the shop told me my ball joints were wearing and they wanted to charge me $530.08 to do it...
I'm going to take it somewhere else for a second opinion...
The PO had set the alignment using a tape measure. It tracks straight, doesn't wander, feels pretty good actually... I'm thinking that even if the ball joints are wearing, they're probably not bad enough to really worry about right now - I've got to tear into the engine first...
I got to looking at this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...placement.html
I about choked - You really have to go through all that for ball joints? Damn... Assuming one has all the parts and tools, how long does it take to do it? I figure I'll eventually need to do it so, might as well get all the info I need first...
So, for those who've done these ball joints, how long does it take to do both sides?
I'm going to take it somewhere else for a second opinion...
The PO had set the alignment using a tape measure. It tracks straight, doesn't wander, feels pretty good actually... I'm thinking that even if the ball joints are wearing, they're probably not bad enough to really worry about right now - I've got to tear into the engine first...
I got to looking at this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...placement.html
I about choked - You really have to go through all that for ball joints? Damn... Assuming one has all the parts and tools, how long does it take to do it? I figure I'll eventually need to do it so, might as well get all the info I need first...
So, for those who've done these ball joints, how long does it take to do both sides?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Rainy Washington
everyone's speed is going to be different. In a shop with a lift and air I could have the entire front end done in half a day. on the ground having never done it before...I would budget a weekend.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville, Ga
Here are my a little more detailed instructions. If you have a buddy help, the time required is obviously cut in half.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...placement.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...placement.html
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: toledo oh
i remember doing my drivers side lower ball joint and decided to do the upper and lower,ujoint and the outter seal?, just because it was all already torn apart. i think the part that took the longest was the cleaning of everything and regreasing it all. i remember when i did it, because thats when i joined this forum to see how tight to tighten the wheelbearing up. haha, good times
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 31
From: Park City, Utah
I haven't done them on a Dana 44, but I've done them on a Dana 60 and two sets on GM 10-bolt axles.
Personally, If I'm going to change out the ball joints, I'll do all four, and I will only use high quality ones. Two of the sets I did came from NAPA (Lifetime warranty) and one set came from my Chevy dealer. I think a set of four was around $125.00.
You will have your rotors off, so it would be a great time to have those turned and install new brake pads. Similarly, a great time for new seals.
Harbor Freight makes a ball joint press that looks like a really robust C-clamp. I've used that (with an impact wrench) with great success. I recommend that tool as a timesaver.
Depending on the number and severity of "issues" that arise I think you're looking at a full day (at least) to do all four, and do it right.
Personally, If I'm going to change out the ball joints, I'll do all four, and I will only use high quality ones. Two of the sets I did came from NAPA (Lifetime warranty) and one set came from my Chevy dealer. I think a set of four was around $125.00.
You will have your rotors off, so it would be a great time to have those turned and install new brake pads. Similarly, a great time for new seals.
Harbor Freight makes a ball joint press that looks like a really robust C-clamp. I've used that (with an impact wrench) with great success. I recommend that tool as a timesaver.
Depending on the number and severity of "issues" that arise I think you're looking at a full day (at least) to do all four, and do it right.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Related to this. On the project that I originally bought for body parts I have decided to just put it back together and use the 4x4 chassis as my starting point. I dod not have a lot of history on the suspension and drivetrain except that it is the typical dana 44 front. I know there are a lot of challenges one of them being the steering knuckle on the drivers side. When I disconnect the tie rods and eveything else from the truck the knuckle has some resistance in it, I assumed this was the ball joints even though there is no play in the joints. I plan on removing the axle and doing a complete rebuild eventually but am trying to assesss the entire sutuation first.
Could this be caused by anything else? Could the joints have started to fail and been tightened too much for a temporary fix?
Thanks for any replies.
Could this be caused by anything else? Could the joints have started to fail and been tightened too much for a temporary fix?
Thanks for any replies.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville, Ga
"some" resistance isn't a bad thing but now's a great time to replace all that (balljoints, bearings, seals 'n such) since you have it apart. Sure would be a shame if you put it back together and then had a breakdown.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I would recomend you buy the ball joint replacement kit. Like Blackfoot Big Block recomended. I have one that I think I bought from Northern Hydraulics. But Harbor Freight probably sells the same one. It works great for u joints also. Air tools are a plus also. I would also do other maintenance since you have everything apart.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Actually I had all the steering apart to replace very badly worn trac bar bushings, the front of the truck would go back and forth sideways when you turned the wheel. I got all that back together and pulled it out of the garage so that my wife had a place to park for the winter.
I was not sure what my action plan was at that point, now I am going to pull it back into the garage when it warms up a little and that will give me time to get the tools and save up to do the entire front and rear axles and anything else on the drivetrain that might need replaced.
I do have air tools so should be good to go.
Thanks as always for the help. I have been absent from this site for a while but now that I got me a new project look for many more posts, this forum and some good books go a long way.
I was not sure what my action plan was at that point, now I am going to pull it back into the garage when it warms up a little and that will give me time to get the tools and save up to do the entire front and rear axles and anything else on the drivetrain that might need replaced.
I do have air tools so should be good to go.
Thanks as always for the help. I have been absent from this site for a while but now that I got me a new project look for many more posts, this forum and some good books go a long way.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: toledo oh
i got my ball joint press from autozone. gave them my credit card info, they gave me the press. as soon as i returned it, they gave me my money back. pretty nice rental deal, same with a lot of other tools.
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