Replacing ball joints on 2002 sport trac.

[swhit]

Hi, Im new at this site and I hope Im in the right spot. I have a question about replacing the lower ball joints on my 02 sport trac. My Haynes repair manual says that the control arms have to be replaced on both upper and lower. I ordered the UCA but only the ball joint for the bottom. Do I have to replace the LCA?

 

[Kjhadfield]

From my past reading, I don't think so- I guess unless you need new bushings (maybe?). The stock uppers need new uca but bottoms I think can be pressed in/out

Someone correct if wrong

Edit: search for mountaineer greens thread on ball joints

 

[swshawaii]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386329

 

[HELMUT RONER]

If the bushings for the lower control arms are still good, not showing any obvious signs of needing replacement then you don't need to replace them (the whole lower arm I mean). I did my lower ball joints recently on my 2002. I hammered my old ones out, inspected the radius of the ball joint hole (looked fine/no damage), and pressed new ball joints up into the arm.

Be aware if you use Moog's K8695T ball joints they recently switched to a new design. Read about them here in this thread I created.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428640

 

[swhit]

Thanks

Thank you guys for the info. Im gonna try to tackle this project this weekend. Sure hope it goes smoothly. I ordered the Moog uca and lower ball joints. I believe the ones I got are K8695T

 

[swhit]

Looked the ones I have and they are the old design. Thanks for the heads up thou. Will let my son know too. He will be replacing his soon.

 

[swshawaii]

Put the lower ball joints in the freezer the night before. Pressing them in straight from the freezer into the LCA is much easier. Make sure to face the grease relief valve on the boot inboard and add grease after installing just until grease starts purging out the valve.

PREMIUM POLYCHLOROPRENE SEALED BOOT WITH GREASE-RELIEF VALVE
http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/_pdf_En/MOOG_PS_Bulletin_27014_Boot_Design_En.pdf