How to replace Lower Ball Joints?

autickfordfairmont · 02-02-2009, 03:43 PM

Hey guys,

Whats involved in replacing lower ball joints myself???

I know they need to be pressed in, but is there anyway i can do it myself or at least do the rest & get someone else to press them in. I would have a look through my workshop manual but I cant find it (have recently moved a couple of times and its been lost).

Reason I ask is that ford want $65ea for the ball joints then $145 each side to fit them, and I can think of better ways to spend $420. I just did a quick search on ebay and can buy them for $35odd a pair shipped to my door.

Does anyone have a how to guide on replacing them???

Cheers

Col.

bloggs24 · 02-02-2009, 04:17 PM

pull the assembly out, and take it to a suspension place. I think the cost mostly comes from disassemble and reassembly, afaik its not to difficult to do if youve got a press.

blackers10 · 02-02-2009, 05:50 PM

yeah assembly and disasembly is the $$ plus getting them pressed out.. should cost no more than $100 depends how nice the suspension shop owner is

MYT · 02-02-2009, 09:10 PM

it shouldn't cost much more than $300 if you get both sides done at most mechanics or suspension places including parts

atec77 · 02-02-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autickfordfairmont

Hey guys,

Whats involved in replacing lower ball joints myself???

I know they need to be pressed in, but is there anyway i can do it myself or at least do the rest & get someone else to press them in. I would have a look through my workshop manual but I cant find it (have recently moved a couple of times and its been lost).

Reason I ask is that ford want $65ea for the ball joints then $145 each side to fit them, and I can think of better ways to spend $420. I just did a quick search on ebay and can buy them for $35odd a pair shipped to my door.

Does anyone have a how to guide on replacing them???

Cheers

Col.

I made a tool ages ago to do them in situ , easiest for you though is pull the arm and find a an engineering shop with a press who will charge maybe $60 to 80 a pair , new ones run $50.00 max if you shop around and make sure it has a grease point .( which you should use every few months )

waggaclint · 03-02-2009, 07:46 PM

you can buy exchange arms from pedders with new ball joints fitted to them just swap em over nice and easy. i think nolathane might do them as well..

autickfordfairmont · 23-02-2009, 04:53 PM

Well I got them all sorted. Got Upper & lower ball joints complete set for $66 shipped to my door. Ripped it all out and remembered a mate who works in a workshop with a press. Took them in, carton of beer for his trouble and bobs your aunty. Was a mission getting the spindle off the lower ball joint and un-doing a couple of the bolts (No air tools, all done by hand). Not to mention I seemed to have every size socket & ring spanner except for the ones I needed. So was a couple of trips down to autobarn & then bunning when (they open earlier & stay open later).

All up got out of it for around $100. Much better than the $420 odd ford wanted or the $340 that pedders wanted just for the lower ball joints (Uppers aswell was more again). Chucked in the new nolathane sway bar D bushes while I was at it cause the old ones were well and truly .....ed, so no more knock & thump from the front end.
While it was all apart I cleaned up the front rotors (hub section) and gave them a paint to get rid of that brown rust look between the mags & painted the front callipers aswell as a few other bits and pieces so its all a bit tidier under there.

Only trouble now is I have discovered a bad oil leak coming from above / next to / behind the alternator & water pump. Kind of hard to tell with oil everywhere where exactly the source is. Oh and a small coolant leak from the left hand side of the radiator, but it may be just a loose clamp.

Cheers

Col.

**Whoosha** · 23-02-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autickfordfairmont

Only trouble now is I have discovered a bad oil leak coming from above / next to / behind the alternator & water pump. Kind of hard to tell with oil everywhere where exactly the source is. Oh and a small coolant leak from the left hand side of the radiator, but it may be just a loose clamp.

Cheers

Col.

Have a look around this here sounds the same as my sons

: If it is loose you can just tighten it with out removing it completly

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11248372

autickfordfairmont · 25-02-2009, 04:36 PM

cheers mate. Looks to be where its coming from, although hard to tell as there is oil everywhere at the moment. I will check it out.

Thanks again.

Day-mow · 05-05-2012, 08:53 PM

yeah thread mining but am i correct in reading i can take out the lower control arm and just press out the ball joints? if this is the case im stoked!!! work has a press and i'll just carry on.

**SSD-85** · 05-05-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day-mow

yeah thread mining but am i correct in reading i can take out the lower control arm and just press out the ball joints? if this is the case im stoked!!! work has a press and i'll just carry on.

Yes you can, a bench press will work wonders. I dont have one, so ill rather pay the dollars for someone else to swear & curse getting them in & out

Day-mow · 05-05-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty85

Yes you can, a bench press will work wonders. I dont have one, so ill rather pay the dollars for someone else to swear & curse getting them in & out

we have a sweet as press @ work, i guess we should seeing as i work in a heavy vehicle/ earth moving workshop.
wont change the latter half though.