which ball joints to buy?

[OGWhiteRob216]

Did a TT, was about to get wheels aligned and the guy told me I need to replace the ball joints first... I need both lower and right upper.... Wheres the cheapest parts I can get that aren't garbage?

 

[carlover]

rockauto.com. buy the moog ball joints. very good quality product, and are greaseable.

 

[KPT]

I would not trust any alignment shop that tells you to replace balljoints without showing you why. I have a lifetime alignment at firestone and one time they told me I needed UCA's, lower BJ's, outer tie rod ends and hubs for $1500. I had already replaced most of those parts... Took the truck to a different firestone and no issues. Years later it took me checking the numbers to notice the alignment was not holding. Turns out an upper BJ was bad.

I have Moogs also from rockauto. They do not seem to last too long for me but my front end is lifted (TT) and accelerating wear I am sure. Also when you buy Moog UCA's the BJ's are replaceable.... but the lifetime warranty will only replace the whole control arm and not the now replaceable BJ.... I have gotten to where I can pull a UCA in five minutes.

 

[OGWhiteRob216]

The guy showed me the problem, the joints are wiggling. I have a few personal mechanics, so I wont pay them. I need something cheap< and dont wanna buy control arms... i dont think i have too???? I'm gonna replace all 4 ball joints, any suggestions on which cheap parts to buy??? Ive seen some for $15-$20, do I have to buy the moogs control arms to get the upper moogs joints???

 

[KPT]

The upper BJ's are not removable from the stock control arms. The lowers are. You have to replace the whole UCA.

 

[OGWhiteRob216]

That explains why the moogs is a good buy... is rockauto.com the cheapest place i can find them??? and are there any other options for a cheaper ball joint set up, thats worth buying?
i'm a cheap broke *******! = )

:navajo:

 

[X~FACTOR]

Sorry to bump the thread but RockAuto do not have the Moog upper control arm anymore. Would the AC Delco would do as well?

 

[X~FACTOR]

The above mentions Moog part number K8708T & K8710T, anyone know if this is the correct part number?

 

[Cobraguy]

Do a part number search for those Moog numbers at Rock Auto. They probably have them at one of the warehouses. I've seen that before.

Remember, Rock Auto doesn't stock a single part. They are brokers...not a parts house.

Why would you consider AC Delco when you could get the Motorcraft for a similar price? I'm just curious is all.

 

[ThePhoenix]

Remember, Rock Auto doesn't stock a single part. They are brokers...not a parts house.

I didnt know that.....

 

[Cobraguy]

Neither did I Phoenix until I tried to return a few things quite some time ago and they had to go back to several different warehouses. I said..."why don't you let me send them back to one central location and you can distribute as necessary since it's your fault?" That's when they told me they use several different contracted warehouses. But the only time it becomes an issue is (1) Freight. You may have to pay from several locations, and (2) returns. Their return policy sucks. Period. They take them back no problem, but you have to pay the freight to different locations. It's just a big time pain. I've actually found a WD here who is close in pricing and there are no return hassles. I go that way now for most things.

 

[ThePhoenix]

are you sure its not that they have warehouses in different locations, kinda like the mustang parts place NPD?

and you get them shipped from the closest one? thats what I thought it was

 

[Cobraguy]

No...they are brokers. They actually told me that. They don't own a single part.

 

[gmanpaint]

If I attempted to replace both lowers on my '95, what would be my out of pocket expense?
Ball park?

 

[Cobraguy]

If you do the work, it will be the price of the ball joints. I picked up a pair of brand new factory Ford ball joints still in the sealed box off ebay for $15. They aren't greasable, but hey...if the first set lasted a 100k, then these will do me for a while. Especially for the price.

 

[alohamonte]

ball joints

I just ordered this kit from ebay, # item 230295418625 Front End Rebuild Kit

I should get in anyday now, and will post about it's quality.

Even with shipping, it's about 1/2 price of Ford parts.

 

[cybercreeper]

I just ordered this kit from ebay, # item 230295418625 Front End Rebuild Kit

I should get in anyday now, and will post about it's quality.

Even with shipping, it's about 1/2 price of Ford parts.

So....??? how was it????

 

[alohamonte]

sure thing, the kit was made from quality, heavy parts.

installation took all day, but... it drives like a new truck.

i'm particularly happy with the improvement to steering (tighter) thanks to the replacement tie rod ends.

the old ball joints were completely shot, nothing left but a bit of the boot, and even the slightest bumps and dips would make the front end groan... you know that horrible metal fatgiue groan? well it's all gone now. now it takes a sizable speed bump at about 25mph to get just a slight squeek out of them whereas before just going down the driveway was too much for the old BJs.

do I think they'll last 100,000 miles? Not at all. But hell the Ford BJs barely lasted 50,000 so I feel like I can't go wrong with what I paid.

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