Front end repairs

[exploder 1]

my ball joints are going out and im going to replace them. i just wanted to know if there are any other things i should replace while im in there. or what to look for trouble shooting wise. thanks

 

[Maniak]

Since you have to mess with them anyway.. wheel bearings and brakes.. and check the tie rod ends too..

~Mark

 

[exploder 1]

thanks for the info..i just did the wheel bearings 4months ago, i was gonna check them and re grease them. im kinda a novice on car repair. how will i know if the tie rods are bad along with any other suspension up front.

 

[pugsy]

thanks for the info..i just did the wheel bearings 4months ago, i was gonna check them and re grease them. im kinda a novice on car repair. how will i know if the tie rods are bad along with any other suspension up front.

You pretty much have to tear apart the whole front end to do the ball joints. So when in pieces, might as well do the u-joints if needed and spindle bearings.

Here's a link to the job.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218254

If you're a novice, this work might be a pain in the but...heck, it's a pain in the but even for the pros but they have the know how and experience to get by any hicups.

 

[beauboy]

Couple of factors identify bad tie rod ends. One is looseness in the steering or your front wheels. Another is torn grease boots. Torn grease boots doesn't mean the tie rod ends are necessarily bad, but does mean you'll have to keep on them to ensure they are greased. As mentioned earlier, since you're going to have the whole thing apart, it's not much more to replace the TR ends. If you don't have a puller, you can rent a bushing puller set from Advance, pay the deposit (fully refundable), and pop the ends out. Not too bad a job.

 

[konstan]

Torn grease boots doesn't mean the tie rod ends are necessarily bad, but does mean you'll have to keep on them to ensure they are greased.

if doing this 'on the cheap' and if the boots are torn, you can buy just the boots at the parts store. if the tie rod ends aren't too loose but the boot is torn, that's a cheap $3 repair.

 

[meterman1976]

with TR ends.. are there a diffrence between 2wd and 4wd drive ones? ive been told yes and No, so im confused on that.