Ball Joints need replacement
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New User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Ball Joints need replacement
Apparently I need 3 out of 4 ball joints replaced. I just had a quote for $950. I can get the parts for $150 low end or $200 for Moog w/lifetime warranty. I have never done this before and wondering how hard is it? Do you need any special tools? Also is Moog worth the extra $50. 2000 V10 4x4.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 89
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From: Orange County, N.Y.
Last year my wife went to visit the folks while I was away. She called me to say she had some clunking comimg from the front end. Since she was not inclined to driving back home that way she went to a trusted auto repair facility by her parents house. 4 Moog balljoints , wheel alignment and a serpentine belt cost $1,000.00 installed . The Moog are greasable where the originals were not. I did not mind the extra few dollars for the Moog's.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
Moog are worth it. I replaced OEM ball joints on my 03 at 80K--fixed the dreaded 'wandering' for the next 100K miles. Getting ready to install on 05. Save the $500 and do it yourself.
You will need some extra tools (ball joint press), but definitely possible in home garage. Search this forum for good directions.
You will need some extra tools (ball joint press), but definitely possible in home garage. Search this forum for good directions.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 534
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From: Oregon
You can also check out:
www.dynatrac.com
Their ball joints are not low end, rather the opposite. According to them the guys that go 4 wheeling in the dunes with their lifted 250's and 350's usually have to replace ball joints either every weekend or everyother weekend. Since they started using theirs 6 months ago they still have not replaced them.
www.dynatrac.com
Their ball joints are not low end, rather the opposite. According to them the guys that go 4 wheeling in the dunes with their lifted 250's and 350's usually have to replace ball joints either every weekend or everyother weekend. Since they started using theirs 6 months ago they still have not replaced them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Az
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 331
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 634
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From: Southern Tier New York
I did my ball joints back in July... Here a post I did that you may have overlooked in a search... TONS OF GREAT INFO!!!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ml#post8636967
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ml#post8636967
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
I've done ball joints 3x now (2 PSD's) and my local shop (the ONLY people that I let turn a wrench on my junk!!) gets about $600 parts and labor, including alignment - except the 2nd time on F350, when the 'lifetime' MOOG parts were FREE!! 
Not only do these guys do excellent work (and I'm hard to impress), but they keep the paperwork and remember I have free parts coming! 
It can certainly be DIY, but it can be a PITA the first time around and good tools make it a world easier (ie, not sure I'd try it on a PSD with a harbor frieght BJ removal tool
).
Btw, I was quoted $1400 by the stealership once...
Not only do these guys do excellent work (and I'm hard to impress), but they keep the paperwork and remember I have free parts coming! It can certainly be DIY, but it can be a PITA the first time around and good tools make it a world easier (ie, not sure I'd try it on a PSD with a harbor frieght BJ removal tool
).Btw, I was quoted $1400 by the stealership once...
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 534
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From: Oregon
Looking for more information, thinking about purchasing some for my X. You are the only one I know that has them.
Were they as easy to install as an OEM or Moog?
Did they help out the steering?
If I may ask where did you purchase and how much?
Would you use Dynatrac's again?
Were they as easy to install as an OEM or Moog?
Did they help out the steering?
If I may ask where did you purchase and how much?
Would you use Dynatrac's again?
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 4
I redid bj's and tire rods at the same time so it's hard to say they are what helped. My pump/linkage would grind before and now it's as smooth as silk.
Got them from Dynatrac direct with my freespin kit. I think they were $4-500 for all four.
Without a doubt.
My only caveat is that the dynatrac's are rebuildable in the "field." Only if the term field means having the spare parts on hand and a means of separating the knuckle to pull the ball & socket
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Clayton, NC
Apparently I need 3 out of 4 ball joints replaced. I just had a quote for $950. I can get the parts for $150 low end or $200 for Moog w/lifetime warranty. I have never done this before and wondering how hard is it? Do you need any special tools? Also is Moog worth the extra $50. 2000 V10 4x4.
I did it in my garage at home. (Course it helps I used to own an auto repair shop) You will definitely need a heavy duty ball joint press and an impact gun to seat them. It's a relatively easy installation. You'll need a 21 mm deep well socket to get at the 4 bolts holding the spindle assembly on. Then you will need a 24mm socket to get the nut off the bottom ball join. Aside from that, just a lot of Deep Creep and elbow grease. Oh, and my sliders on my caliper bracket were locked up tight. A torch, a whole can of Deep Creep and 3 hours later and I had them loose.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Clayton, NC
Apparently I need 3 out of 4 ball joints replaced. I just had a quote for $950. I can get the parts for $150 low end or $200 for Moog w/lifetime warranty. I have never done this before and wondering how hard is it? Do you need any special tools? Also is Moog worth the extra $50. 2000 V10 4x4.
2000 Ford Excursion Ball Joint Replacement pictures, videos, and sounds | SuperMotors.net
You don't have to remove the circlip and spacers on the axle stub. You can remove the 4 bolts on the spindle and pull the spindle and axle out together as one unit. You have to carefully pry the spindle free from the seat and then everything will come out together. :-)
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 4
I would do it again in a minute. Very good quality and service. Hardest part of the whole thing was paying for it.
I ran the math and if I had a single unit hub failure while traveling with the family I would more than cover than the cost of the kit for towing, dealer, food and hotel.
I ran the math and if I had a single unit hub failure while traveling with the family I would more than cover than the cost of the kit for towing, dealer, food and hotel.