Ball Joints

[Randysbamaranger]

I am planning to change my lower ball joints soon. Do I need to change my upper ones and change the Upper A Arm to? Thank you for any information.

 

[BlackMoses]

I'm pretty sure for your '98 your upper ball joints are able to be separated from the upper control arms, best bet is to take a look at them and see if they can be pressed out. If not you can always buy the whole arm and not have to worry about it.

I've got a 2001 myself and I had to buy new upper control arms, and unless I'm wrong, I thought the 2000 and older could just replace the upper ball joint and 2001 and newer could not.

As far as needing to replace the upper ball joint when you replace the lower...you don't HAVE to, but if you've got a part of your truck off (the spindle in this case) you might as well replace a few things.

 

[Duane867]

I would do them all at the same time if it were me.

 

[straycat]

Yes...do all at the same time. Use Moog ball joints with the zerk fittings so you can lube them and they will last a log time. I did it and I am really happy with them. My uppers could not be pressed out for some reason. I got the new uppers so I can replace them easier. Some of my buddies had the same problem and some other did not. My Ranger is a 99...go figure.

 

[Duane867]

Some times those little bastards get rusted in place real good.
Went through the same thing this past Sunday with mine. its a 93 but same concept.
Press in press out.

 

[modelageek]

look at your uppers...see if they have the snap ring on them if they do you can replace just the BJ, as recommended moog problem solvers are the best........

 

[TwoTrackMind]

Buyer Beware

as recommended moog problem solvers are the best........

But make sure you take them out of the box, look on the end with the zerk fitting, and see "Problem Solver" stamped into them! I got some at a local chain parts store and they were brandX and definitely inferior. The guy that worked there said Moog factory reps came in and took brandX ball joints off the shelf and put them in Moog boxes they brought with them. Probably legal too...

 

[straycat]

But make sure you take them out of the box, look on the end with the zerk fitting, and see "Problem Solver" stamped into them! I got some at a local chain parts store and they were brandX and definitely inferior. The guy that worked there said Moog factory reps came in and took brandX ball joints off the shelf and put them in Moog boxes they brought with them. Probably legal too...

I have never heard of this before!! WTF is this all about?? That sounds like somebody is trying to start a rumor. I contacted a buddy of mine whose dad works for Moog to ask him about this. His dad said ....NO WAY that happened. If it did it was some crooked suppliers and they need to be turned in.....

 

[Duane867]

Definitely not a Moog rep.
More then likely the store owner.

 

[greenpus]

98 99 2000 the ball joints pop out for replacement. I used MOOG and the only complaint I have with MOOG is the cheap rubber cup they use. It usually tears and looks like crap after about a month. Don't over grease your joints becuase it will cause the rubber cup to blow
also use 90 degree zerks. makes it much easier to grease. Replace all your balljoints at the same time. Also I would recommend use Carquest balljoints if you can find them. They are made by MOOG but they have more movement and less prone to damage if you do offroad.

 

[fang619]

i would have to agree with everyone on here you should replace your uppers too, they can be forced out with a hammer (i tried out of curiosity after replacing my control arms) but as for getting new ones in.... that might be a bit harder, i would suggest getting new arms all together and probably new tie rod arms while your at it, autzone has em for only $12 each and it would only take an extra 20 mins or so

 

[greenpus]

I wanted to throw in my opinion here on the quality of MOOG balljoints. I was disappointed in the rubber boots.
I bought a new 2000 2wd Ranger with 0 mileage. At 80,000 miles the upper balljoints started to creak and pop. I removed the Ford sealed balljoints and installed 4 new MOOG balljoints. The rubber boots on the MOOGs fell apart in a few months. We are talking about all 4 rubber boots. They are junk!
At 150,000 miles the balljoints are creaking and popping again and need to be replaced. I am not going to replace them with MOOG and will be using the Motorcraft sealed balljoints. At least with the Motorcraft, I don't have to worry about greasing anymore and the rubber boots on the Motorcrafts don't tear and they last as long as the MOOG.
I also had the same issue with MOOG tie-rod ends. The boots cracked and exposed the grease. The original tie-rod ends had 130,000 miles before I replaced them. No way in hell am I using MOOG again.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i have noticed in the 3 years as a parts guys that some of the pieces in the moog boxes dont have problem solver stamped into them and some of the replacement parts for newer cars arent even greasable. just my observation

 

[rickf92592]

Replaceing the whole arm will get you new bushings as well, no?

 

[modelageek]

Replaceing the whole arm will get you new bushings as well, no?

yes the new arm will have bushings in them