Just got done changing all 4 ball joints on my truck. It was the first time me or the guy had done it (at least on a 4wd it was...he had changed them on his '99 F450 2wd). We learned all of our mistakes after we did the driver's side. The driver's side took us 7 hours (yeah i know...we ran into all kinds of draw-backs) but the passenger side only took us barely over an hour. Anyways, I went by these instructions: Ford Super Duty Ball Joint Replacement Procedure | Superdutypsd.com
It says to unhook the ABS Sensor wire, so we did. Is there any reason this would have drained the battery? After we did the driver's side I had to start it up so that I could turn my truck around, and it made some strange sound and then struggled to turn over and then finally fired up. Then, after the passenger side, I cranked it up and it REALLY struggled, but was still enough to start it up. After the 2nd time I started it, I let it idle while we cleaned up to see if the battery might charger any, then shut it off while we went inside to wash our hands and what not. When I started it up to leave my friend's house it definately started a little easier, but you can still tell it wasn't easy for it. It's still struggling a little each time I start it up, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse. But my question is...why would the ABS Sensor wire have done this (if it even did)?

Or maybe it wasn't the ABS Sensor wire...but what else would we may have tampered with that you can see in those directions that would cause battery drain?

 

ABS should have nothing to do with starting. The ABS sensor will not drain the battery, no way, no how. Check the voltage at the battery after it's been sitting for a few hours. A fully charged 100% battery should read 12.6 volts. When the engine is running it should read high 13's, up to 14.2 or so.