Front end help

[jlondeau]

Okay, I do not want to pay out the arse for new ball joints but it looks like that may happen. I cannot find a local garage around my area to fix my 94 Explorer Sport without rapeing me. I have replaced the front calipers, brake pads, roters, inner/outer bearings w/seals. Now, I am having a hard time trying to decide if I should pay someone to due the ball joints or should I dig alittle deeper and do it myself? The question I have is what tools would I need to do this and I have read the repair manuals over and over still trying to find an easier way then having to pull the front axles to get to the ball joints (lower). Oh BTW, I am new to this forum so bare with me.

 

[MrShorty]

You're on your own trying to figure out how to do it without pulling the axleshafts. I'm not aware of any real "shortcuts." Having done the balljoints on both my BII and my Explorer, I'm not sure why you are trying so hard not to pull the axleshafts. They aren't that hard to get out. The hardest part is getting the spindle to separate from the knuckle, and the difficulty here depends on how badly rusted they are. On my '92, they came right off with a little persuasion. On my '87, they required a great deal of persuasion.

I'm not sure where it's at here, but search through the threads. I know someone has posted a ball joints how to.

 

[jlondeau]

Lets say I can get my yearly allowance of iron from the rust on this truck..

 

[DeRocha]

Sorry to disappoint you, but there is No way to replace ball joints without removing the steering knuckle.. The only way to remove the steering knuckle is to pull the axle shafts.. You have already remove 70% of the components when you performed the other work on you front end.. You just need to remove the ABS sensor protector and use a slide hammer to pull off the spindle and the axle shafts come right out..