How bad can bad ball joints get?

*Brandons* · 07-06-2004, 11:44 PM

I think both left and right lower ball joints on the exploder are shot, theyve got a bit of play (moving the wheel up and down) and make clunk or click noises when i hit some bumps or turn over certain terrain.

I was wondering how bad this problem can get, or what could result from it, since we will probably wait until fall when we get the alignment done and get new tires, and 4x4 fixed, when theyl get replaced, all at once.

Also i was wondering how hard it is if i perhaps.. wanted to replace them myself. Ive dropped the tranny and put it back in, and the trucks running pretty good now, so is it a hard job in comparison to a tranny?

thanks for the help

*TheRookie* · 07-07-2004, 02:44 AM

They can get REALY BAD. I had a customer come for an inspection and was able to break the ball joint apart by hand. They will eventualy break. This often will cause NO controll of the vehicle. DONT wait. Fix it

*Brandons* · 07-07-2004, 12:11 PM

Ok ill try to get ahold of new ones ASAP, and make sure this is problem.. which unfortunately, im really sure of. I think ill do this repair myself.. after tranny, it probably isnt as hard. Thanks for the help

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07-06-2004, 11:44 PM	#1
Brandons Elite Explorer Ontario, Canada 06 F150 SC 5.4 Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,626 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	How bad can bad ball joints get? I think both left and right lower ball joints on the exploder are shot, theyve got a bit of play (moving the wheel up and down) and make clunk or click noises when i hit some bumps or turn over certain terrain. I was wondering how bad this problem can get, or what could result from it, since we will probably wait until fall when we get the alignment done and get new tires, and 4x4 fixed, when theyl get replaced, all at once. Also i was wondering how hard it is if i perhaps.. wanted to replace them myself. Ive dropped the tranny and put it back in, and the trucks running pretty good now, so is it a hard job in comparison to a tranny? thanks for the help __________________ 2006 F150 XLT Supercrew 5.4L 1994 XLT 4.0L 1997 XL 4.0L

07-07-2004, 02:44 AM	#2
TheRookie Traveling SAS guru West Chester PA 91 explorer xlt Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,465 Vehicle Specs	They can get REALY BAD. I had a customer come for an inspection and was able to break the ball joint apart by hand. They will eventualy break. This often will cause NO controll of the vehicle. DONT wait. Fix it __________________ Then: 91 XLT on currie 9's, lots of mods Now: 01 TJ 5.3 swap in progress 02 GMC duramax with basic stuff

07-07-2004, 12:11 PM	#3
Brandons Elite Explorer Ontario, Canada 06 F150 SC 5.4 Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,626 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Ok ill try to get ahold of new ones ASAP, and make sure this is problem.. which unfortunately, im really sure of. I think ill do this repair myself.. after tranny, it probably isnt as hard. Thanks for the help. __________________ 2006 F150 XLT Supercrew 5.4L 1994 XLT 4.0L 1997 XL 4.0L