How do I press in upper ball joint? PICTURES

[Hitchhikingmike]

My haynes manual says that the upper front ball joint is not replaceable by itself, but rather the entire top control arm has to be replaced as a unit. But I have heard otherwise from around this forum. Every place I call carries the ball joint itself, but not the upper control arm.

So I assume that it is pressable?

When looking at the upper ball joint, I dont easily understand from what direction I press it from, or how to do it correctly. Unlike the lower ball joint, there is no snap ring around it and it is not obvious from which side it goes in an out.

top view:

side view:

looking at it straight on:

If anyone has pressed these out before, please share!!

Are these pressable? From which side do they pop in and out? Top or bottom?

Thanks.

 

[rrgone]

The two guys who responded to that question over at FTE are regulars in there and both know their stuff:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/777724-upper-ball-joint-replacement.html

Let us know if you find out different.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

or, is the haynes manual correct by saying that the entire control arm has to be replaced with the ball joint.

But then do the aftermarket control arms have replaceable ball joints in them??

Anyone know if the factory ball joints can be pressed out?!?

 

[YountExplr]

the factory upper ball joints are a one piece with the control arm. Once you buy an aftermarket upper control arm/ balljoint then you can press out the ball joint and replace it by itself. Id go with a moog replacement and it costs about $120 at checkers auto and it seems to be what everybody suggests.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Thanks for the feedback guys... When I spoke to the parts guy at autozone and pepboys they did not carry the control arm replacement units.

So I guess I the part will be best found online??

I've looked at a few online dealers and I am yet able to find moog replacement upper control arms. The motorcraft control arms are the most populous.

Please share with me your favorite online auto parts distributor so I can look up and see if they cary what I'm looking for.

Thanks again.

 

[YountExplr]

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/product...OO&MfrPartNumber=K8708T&PartType=2070&PTSet=A

you can pick one up at your local Checker, Kragen, or Oreilly's auto parts store or take advantage of the free shipping of orders of $75 or more!

As far as I know this is the only retailer other than advance auto(i think) that carries MOOG.

 

[YountExplr]

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ca...e=14600837&itemId=prod11137&parentId=cat10006
Oh by the way the people at autozone are idiots...I had one tell me that ball joints are not pressed parts... but instead something that screws in.

But I wouldnt shop there for parts anyways unless they are unimportant parts like windshield wipers or something. Their chinese made crap is for the most part useless.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Thanks for the information.

But take a look at the second part on the list:
http://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=10333+1616+4294963628+9276+799

this moog ball joint is unlike others, in that it does not come with a snap ring. And it looks like it will press in my control arm. So is this moog joint for stock control arm or aftermarket control arm? Wouldn't think that moog aftermarket control arms would require snap rings to hold in the ball joints?

Something still makes me think that with much force, the factory ball joints are still pressable.

Thanks for the great info thus far.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/product...OO&MfrPartNumber=K8708T&PartType=2070&PTSet=A

you can pick one up at your local Checker, Kragen, or Oreilly's auto parts store or take advantage of the free shipping of orders of $75 or more!

As far as I know this is the only retailer other than advance auto(i think) that carries MOOG.

Also, how were you able to find this part, when I select upper control arms for 2002 ford explorers, the web site says that no upper control arms are available for this model and year.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/product...OO&MfrPartNumber=K8708T&PartType=2070&PTSet=A

you can pick one up at your local Checker, Kragen, or Oreilly's auto parts store or take advantage of the free shipping of orders of $75 or more!

As far as I know this is the only retailer other than advance auto(i think) that carries MOOG.

Okay, please note that this product is for 2001 - 2004 Explorer Sport Trac
and 1995-2001 explorers.

I have a 2002 explorer, no sport trac.

By the lack of availability of aftermarket upper control arms for *2002-2005* ford explorers, I am thinking more and more that these ball joints actually are pressable.

I can find lots of moog ball joints for the uppers, but no upper moog control arms. Plus the moog ball joint looks EXACTLY like the one in my ex from the top.

 

[fordpower1989]

advance auto does carry the moog ball joints for 115 dollars along with the control arm. some of the time it is impossible to find the exact part you need online at any store if it is out of stock it may tell you that that part doesnt exsist but that is jus within their database. I also am replacing my ball joints on my 99 and my mechanic tells me u cannot replace jus the ball joint until you have th aftermarket control arm. my suggestion is to stop looking online.

if they can be compressed they have the tool for rent at most parts stores and im sure they can explain to you how to do it

 

[YountExplr]

hmm you may be right as to that these are pressable...because I could not find a control arm for the 2002, my bad. If they are pressable you will have to rent a ball joint press from autozone and I think it is about $100 - $150 and it is returned after the tool is returned. I just recently did a Chevy Silverado upper ball joint and it presses out upwards and presses in downwards. Depending on the condition of the ball joint this job could take you an hour or four hours...like with us.

 

[jrford]

Bummer, but according to Ford Parts Direct its not pressable, and they have it, with a pic for '04.
http://www.forddirectonline.com/par...=2004&graphicID=T170070&callout=8&catalogid=1

Upper control arm, explorer, mountaineer, right 02-05 $160.05 $118.84

 

[cybergasm]

FWIW

i just replaced the upper ball joints on a 2000 Explorer and yes i had to replace the entire upper control arm on both sides.

guess i lucked out that the local AutoZone had both arms in stock
99.00 for the driver side
40.00 for the passenger side.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Thanks for the info, but this thread is for *2002-2005* ford explorers. The 2nd gens and 3rd gens are different beasts and have different upper control arms. If you have replaced any upper ball joints on a 2002-2005 explorer please share too.

Thanks

 

[tbe2002]

On rock auto you can buy just the upper ball joint and not the whole arm. I wonder if they can be pressed out. I may be testing this here soon.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I am led to believe that the 2002-2005 ford explorers' upper ball joints are pressable for the following reasons:

1. No aftermarket upper control arms can readably be found. If the ball joints could not be pressed out don't you think there would be an abudant of aftermarket control arms with replaceable ball joints just as there is for the 2ng generation explorer? Motorcraft control arms are abundant, but not aftermarket ones.

2. Aftermarket ball joints by them selves are abundant. Not only are they abundant, but they claim, specifically the moog ball joints " SOLD INDIVIDUALLY -- A High Quality Direct Fit OEM Replacement Ball Joint, Features A Housing Forged From Fine-Grain Alloy Steel For Unequaled Strength And Durability, Boasts Powdered-Metal Gusher Bearings That Resist Wear Better Than Conventional Designs, Has Pressed-In Cover Plates To Provide A Solid-Steering Fee"

3. The after market ball joint appear to be exact in construction to to my factory ball joints, compare pictures:

the aftermarket replacement:

my stock ball joints

Thanks for all your input guys, the people behind the auto part counter wouldn't know any better if I asked them.

 

[MrQ]

Good research. Hopefully your on the right track here.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I am thinking that they just press in and out through the top of the control arm and fit so snugly they do not require a snap ring. I guess the only way to find out will be to go ahead and try it. I'll let yall know in a week or two once I get around to it. My current project is changing out the valve cover gaskets.

 

[YountExplr]

alright...I think that since you press them in downwards and then tighten the nut at the bottom there is no need for a snap ring as it wouldnt be able to move back up since it is now bolted to the knuckle...thats my thinking, hope its right