2001 Sport Trac lower Ball Joint change

[wctrainer]

I was putting a new wheel bearing on the passenger side of my 2001 Sport Trac 4x4 and I noticed I needed a lower ball joint.. since I had everything already off, I removed the tie rod and unbolted the lower ball joint but did not get it loose. In fact it appeared even if it did it would not separate from the spindle. I put everything back together and will attack it again. Will the lower a-arm separate from the spindle with the top of the spindle still bolted in? if it does, is there room to press out the ball joint?

Thanks!!

 

[swshawaii]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188225

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/InstallingNewLowerBallJoints.pdf

 

[wctrainer]

Thanks for the links - the second one is what I have.. am surprised he could do it that way!!

 

[The Breeze]

When I changed out my spindle for lift spindles, I had to use a 60lbs jackhammer BUT I was getting rid of the stock spindle and it did damage it. I beat on the spindle for hours snd it didnt budge. Its a bugger!

 

[Sp0rtTr4c]

Autozone rents out a press for like $100. That is what I used and it worked great.

 

[wctrainer]

I have the Autozone ball joint press.. I simply didn't get far enough to use it. I stopped when studying the spindle. Tomorrow I will try undoing the top of the spindle from the upper ball joint rather than taking the upper a-arm off. With the spindle out of the way I can work on the joint itself.

 

[wctrainer]

Well I did finally get it in!! here is the work flow:

1) loosen axle nut with car on ground (32 mm)
2) remove tire (19 mm)
3) remove brake caliper (13 mm)
4) remove caliper carrige (15 mm)
5) remove dust shield (8 mm)
6) remove upper ball joint shaft bolt (bolt head 15 mm, nut 17 mm)
7) remove tie rod end (19 mm) - take nut off and hit the spindle frame and the tie rod pops up
8) remove wheel bearing (15 mm) (just made it easier), remove ABS wire from back of spindle (8 mm) and set bearing to the side
9) remove ball joint nut (22 mm)
10) using a ball joint fork - hitting it in, pop the spindle down on the ball joint shaft
11) remove spindle and set to the side (pulls off the upper ball joint shaft)
12 remove snap ring on ball joint (let mine soak in rust penetrator for 30 min)

I used the Auto Zone ball joint press to press the joint out - put a pipe on your turning wrench for torque.

Cleaned the hole and put lithium grease on it for installation. The Auto Zone press would not work for installing, luckily my neighbor had a Snap On press that worked perfectly. Pressed in the new ball joint, greased it and re-installed everything removed.

Actually wasn't that bad to do - it all depends on how much rust you have to deal with!!

 

[swshawaii]

Good job but only one? Chances are you will be replacing the drivers side in the near future.