'07 Upper Ball Joints

[sjconley]

I'm in the process of replacing the front upper ball joints on my 2007 Explorer (XLT, 4WD, 199k) and have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help with. * Disclaimer - I'm definitely NOT a mechanic am I'm muddling through this mostly with videos and forum threads that I can find (which is very little for 4th gen), so please bear with me if I'm asking stupid questions. *
I'm working on the driver's side and have the ball joint (old) separated from the spindle, but haven't yet managed to get the old one out. I do have a 23-pc press kit that I'm borrowing from AutoZone, but so far no luck. I have a couple of issues and some questions...

Q1: If the upper BJs require a snap ring (seems some do and some don't), WHERE exactly does it go (on top of the control arm or on the underside of the control arm (above the body of the BJ)?

From some of the older videos I've watched, I thought it would be on top of the control arm, under the edge of the BJ, but I recently saw another forum post where the guy stated that it went on the underside of the control arm. I don't really know what it does, so I'm unclear. The replacement parts that I ordered came with one, but they also came with a cotter pin and the existing parts do not have that either.

I tried to press out the existing BJ yesterday, to no avail. The top of the ball joint has a flared lip (unlike the replacement). here's a pic: 2007 Explorer, Front Upper Ball Joint - Needs to be Replaced - June 2018

The way the control arm is designed makes it rather difficult to get a receiving cup in there (for the ball joint to press up into) -- there's virtually no wiggle room along the front edge and I can't be sure if the one I used has an inner diameter large enough to clear the flared lip of the BJ.

The replacement parts that I ordered seem to be a poor design, so I'm back to searching for different parts.
here's a pic: 1AAutoBJvsExistingBJ_20180703 and another: Original_BJ2_Opened_20180703
I'm honestly thinking that I might just replace the whole control arm, but I'd still like to understand what's going on here in case it comes up again.

Any helpful advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[katsov]

I recently replaced upper and lower ball joints on both sides. I also borrowed the press kit from auto zone and it was a PITA! But I got it done. I didn't have snap rings on the old ball joints but the new MOOG ones had it. The cotter pin is also new as it goes under the castle nut through the ball joint stud. It's definitely a puzzle game trying to figure out which pieces to use with the press. There was one piece that barely went over the top of the ball joint and sat on that weird lip of the control arm. I ended up using the screw part of the press against the stud of the ball joint. It was difficult because the ball joint likes to move around while pressing it

 

[katsov]

Since you're pressing the ball joint down, the snap ring will go under the control arm to prevent it from going up on its own

 

[sjconley]

Thanks @katsov, that was helpful!

 

[Partsman109]

Q1: If the upper BJs require a snap ring (seems some do and some don't)

I didn't have snap rings on the old ball joints but the new MOOG ones had it

Ford only services the upper ball joint with the whole arm, that’s why there’s no snap ring on the old ones...but the aftermarket replacement needs to be held in somehow, so they use a snap ring.

 

[sjconley]

Ford only services the upper ball joint with the whole arm, that’s why there’s no snap ring on the old ones...but the aftermarket replacement needs to be held in somehow, so they use a snap ring.

Thanks for the info, @Partsman109 -- I ended up replacing the control arms so I didn't have to deal with the ball joints individually.

 

[Tech By Trade]

Good move, they are a PITA. Ended up freezing a bolt when I did my lowers, local parts shop only had the upper ball joints in stock, Saturday on a long weekend. After the battle, it would have been better had I waited until Tuesday for the upper arm to come in..