Just ordered new upper and lower ball joint for my truck and was looking for some advice on the best way to do it. I would like to have everything ready before i start. Anything else you guys recommend to change while i'm in there?

 

check your sway bar link pins in the front-

Ball joints uppers and lowers should go in within 20minutes unless you have issues-

I just took the whole assembly out on mine-- Put a vice on it and used a small 3" piece of exhaust pipe for a spacer- then jammed them in with an impact -


If you don't have an impact you are going to be spending 10 hours with a hammer trying to seat those ball joints properly. its a 96- I'm positive your shocks are rusted thru- but springs should still be fine- i still have my original exhaust- but its rusty- i would take a look at that too. gas tank straps- good time to check to see if the tranny is leaking or how much fluid you have in it- Just remove the plug and stick your pinky finger in there- if the nail is wet you got enough fluid. no stick so its about the only way you can tell.

 

did you have to get the upper coontrol arms with the balljoints. I replaced my uppers control arms 6 months ago. I would check your tierods ends. I replaced my rotors, pads and wheel bearings while i was at it. they were trashed.

 

Ok, Got done changing both upper and lower ball joints on both sides. Also changed my wheel bearings and Brake pads while i was in there. The tie rod ends looked and felt good. Also changed my plug wires and air filter and truck seems to run smooth. Thanks for all the tips.

 

excellent did you have to change the upper control arms also or were the upper balljoint a separate piece from the arm?

 

Ball joints were separate