98 Ranger 2wd lower ball joint replacement ?'s

[v6underpressure]

1. I don't have to purchase a whole new lower control arm do I?

2. If the above answer is no, will I need a coil spring compressor to do the lower ball joint? Or can I just place a jack under the control arm?

Thanks guys!

 

[v6underpressure]

No one's done this before????

 

[Crunchy]

Jack under control arm is fine, but a jack stand is better and can save your life.

Helps to remove the all the brakes/calipers, etc, but not required, you can let the whole assembly hang by the upper control arm, just watch your brakes lines and stuff.

And go rent the balljoint press and get yourself a pickle fork, it will make life much easier.

Haynes manual helps alot too, if your unsure.

Buy MOOG balljoints and be done with it. Get some grease and grease gun if you don't already have one to grease them after the install.

 

[v6underpressure]

Jack under control arm is fine, but a jack stand is better and can save your life.

Helps to remove the all the brakes/calipers, etc, but not required, you can let the whole assembly hang by the upper control arm, just watch your brakes lines and stuff.

And go rent the balljoint press and get yourself a pickle fork, it will make life much easier.

Haynes manual helps alot too, if your unsure.

Buy MOOG balljoints and be done with it. Get some grease and grease gun if you don't already have one to grease them after the install.

I actually own the Haynes manual, and it says in there that if the ball joint is bad on 98 and above, the entire lower arm needs replacing and that the ball joint is not serviceable. Is this true?

 

[Snowboarder7710]

no i just replaced the uppers and lowers on my 01 edge. i actually removed the snap ring and pounded the old lower ball joint out with a sledge...then used a socket once it got flush with the arm. then i used a ball joint press that i rented at auto zone to install the moog one. it was actually pretty simple. dont replace the entire arm. you do however need to replace the entire arm for the uppers.

 

[MELVILLE]

I have a 1998 2wd ranger. I also need to replace the upper and lower balljoints. AutoZone sells upper balljoints with or without the arm. So are you saying I can't replace the upper without replacing the upper control arm?

 

[Snowboarder7710]

from what ive seen on here, its a huge PITA to remove the upper balljoint from the arm. just get the ones with the whole arm...its easier to replace unless you have a machine shop nearby that can press out the old ball joints and press in the new ones

 

[work2do]

PITA is confirmed on upper BJ replacement 1998-99-00-01-?

Regardless of the fact that it can be done, there is always the uncertainty of the job not going right.

All of the individual parts are available to put a good quality set of BJ's in both original upper and lower arms (servicable w/ grease zerks/fittings).

At the time I did mine, I had enough time to put the truck down for a few days and take a shot at it.

I figured if it didn't work out , I'd just return the individual joints and buy the arms......It worked out but it also worked my a*ss and resolve over a few times too.....

If I had to get my truck back into service quick and eliminate doubt/uncertainty, I'd just get the arm/joint assembly.

 

[olddude55]

Second the Moog ball joints. I did this job a couple of weeks ago and the OE ball joints (if that's what they were; I bought the truck used) are toy-like compared to the Moogs.
You'll pay more for them, but it's worth it.

 

[crazypj]

old thread but just as relevant.
It shows the search function works
I know I need new lowers in my 2004 2wd 2.3, was going to ask which are the best as I've seen ads for several that all look the same but the price variations are unreal
I'll just look for Moog

 

[RollinWOT]

It's easier to just replace the whole upper arm as an assembly and for the lower control arm, just use a ball joint press and press in some new MOOG joints. I just did both upper arms and loower BJ's a couple months ago and it's easiest tto put a jack stand under the front lower control arm, but make sure you've got the full weight of the truck on the jackstand/ have the truck at curb height otherwise the lower balljoint won't press in right. I didn't know that and i pressed in the lower balljoint when the lower control arm was just supported, but not at curb height and it kept popping after the install was done, I had to reinstall a new joint at curb height and then it was ok.

 

[adsm08]

Ok, here is the final word on arm replacement.

The LOWERS can be serviced without an arm assembly.

The FACTORY UPPERS cannot. I know companies sell just the upper ball joint, and yes it is possible to remove the joint from the factory upper arm. But it is nearly impossible to do without destroying the arm. It is more luck than skill when it does happen.

Aftermarket companies such as MOOG do sell replacement arms that are designed to have the joint removed and are worth spending the money on if you plan to keep the vehicle and replace your upper joints yourself more than once since removal of the upper arm requires and alignment after re-installation.

 

[hdmm]

Ok, here is the final word on arm replacement.

The LOWERS can be serviced without an arm assembly.

The FACTORY UPPERS cannot. I know companies sell just the upper ball joint, and yes it is possible to remove the joint from the factory upper arm. But it is nearly impossible to do without destroying the arm. It is more luck than skill when it does happen.

Aftermarket companies such as MOOG do sell replacement arms that are designed to have the joint removed and are worth spending the money on if you plan to keep the vehicle and replace your upper joints yourself more than once since removal of the upper arm requires and alignment after re-installation.

This ^^^

 

[FlyinRyan]

Do the factory uppers come with C-Clips holding them in? I've got to replace mine and both have C-Clips, not sure if they're OE arms or not though.