Ball Joint Question

[Brandons]

Alright my parents picked up 4 new ball joints... i dont know if they got the right ones, since these were around $30 Canadian. They are the ones that use c-clips, i'll try to get some pictures up soon, however i dont want to remove them from the baggies there in.

Anyone know from this small amount of information if these are correct?

Thanks!

 

[Doug]

Yeah explorer ball joints have c-clips... as well as the ball joints for many other vehicles. It's kind of hard to visually ID ball joints you're betting off going back to the parts shop and verifying the part numbers with them.

 

[Brandons]

yeah i can agree with you on the complications of visually ID ing the ball joints. I really like these ones since they actually had grease fittings for each one.

At the store that we got the ball joints we had two different choises for types, the c-clips or some other one. I went out and checked and the upper ball joints used c-clips. I guess we got the right ones.

Heres the upper and lower ball joint.

And the horrible alignment right now.

I think the alignment problem is part ball joints/coil springs. So i will probably pick up some coil springs too.

 

[jimbo74]

not sure on the design of the explorer... but do you need a press for those?

 

[Brandons]

im not sure, i never read anywere about needing one yet, i have a friend that may be up to install them since im not too tempted to do this myself since its an important part.

 

[Creager]

Yeah you will need a press. C-frame kind will do

You need new coil spings for sure. I got mine from rockauto at like 60 bucks for the pair. Camber pefect now hehe

 

[Brandons]

Were i work sells them for something around $134 each! canadian though. $60 for a pair is awsome!

 

[Creager]

Were i work sells them for something around $134 each! canadian though. $60 for a pair is awsome!

really? Yeah i got the Ac Delco springs

www.rockauto.com

 

[DeRocha]

The Lower ball joint has a threaded shaft and is held in place by a castle nut. The upper ball joint has a smooth bore and is held in place by a pinch bolt. You will need the "C" press as mentioned above to press out the old and in the new... A little tip... place the ball joints in the freezer the night before.. The cold will shrink them slightly allowing them to go in 100% easier. After they are pressed in wait an hour or so (or use a blow drier) before tightening up any bolts. This will the ball joint to reach the surrounding temperature and give accurate torque settings.

BTW it is rare, but some early explorers came with the inferior Dana28 axle. This can easily be ID'd by the axle code sticker, or by the upper ball joint. The upper ball joint will be threaded like the lower and held in place by a castle nut like the lower ball joint.

 

[CDW6212R]

The Lower ball joint has a threaded shaft and is held in place by a castle nut. The upper ball joint has a smooth bore and is held in place by a pinch bolt. You will need the "C" press as mentioned above to press out the old and in the new... A little tip... place the ball joints in the freezer the night before.. The cold will shrink them slightly allowing them to go in 100% easier. After they are pressed in wait an hour or so (or use a blow drier) before tightening up any bolts. This will the ball joint to reach the surrounding temperature and give accurate torque settings.

BTW it is rare, but some early explorers came with the inferior Dana28 axle. This can easily be ID'd by the axle code sticker, or by the upper ball joint. The upper ball joint will be threaded like the lower and held in place by a castle nut like the lower ball joint.

Excellent post, well done. Thanks,

 

[Tony H]

You will need a way to pull the spindles off so you can slide the Axles out. Passenger side, remove the clamp holding the Boot on teh axle only a small section of that axle slides out. Mark both halves of the axle so you can put back in the same orientation as you took it off.
I have put the ball joints in teh freezer overnight, it contracts them and makes the install noticeably easier.

 

[Rhett]

You will need a way to pull the spindles off so you can slide the Axles out. Passenger side, remove the clamp holding the Boot on teh axle only a small section of that axle slides out. Mark both halves of the axle so you can put back in the same orientation as you took it off.

Also, Brandons, since you have a 94 Explorer, you will have to remove the front ABS sensors and their housings in order to pull the front axleshafts.