Bronco II 4x4 Ball Joints

[Rustbucket350]

How difficult are these to do? I've only done ball joints on my 80 camaro and this is a totally different suspension. I'm gonna try and knock all four out tomorrow so any tips are appreciated. It looks like the axles slip out after removing the brakes and hubs. From there I planned on driving the knuckle loose with a pickle fork. Can I press both the upper and lower in before I reinstall the steering knuckle?

 

[adsm08]

You are mostly on the right track. You get the rotor off, then there is a spindle that has to come off. Five 15mm nuts hold it on. There is a special socket to use with a slide hammer, or you can get a chisel behind it and pop it off. Then the axles can come out.

Driver's axle just comes out, passenger side is clipped into the diff and you have to take the diff off the beam to remove the whole thing. I just undo the boot at the center of the long axle and remove only the outer section.

Ball joints are in the knuckle, not the beam, and so the knuckle has to be off to remove or install them, which would still be true if they were in the beam.


It takes me about two hours to do both sides. But I have done it a few times and have lots of power tools.

 

[Rustbucket350]

Two hours for both sides? I've had this thing 5 years and replaced everything but the steering including doing a 4.0, M5OD, mustang rear discs, and a 5 inch lift. This might be easier than I thought lol. I was thinking this job would take me a day per side but that's mainly due to how damn dirty the steering is from the 2.9 leaking everywhere and I couldn't see what I had to remove.

How do I undo the passenger side boot? I've honestly never noticed a boot in there but I never really looked.

 

[adsm08]

I think originally there was a crimp clamp on either end of the boot, like on a CV shaft, but all the ones I have ever worked on the clamp was gone and you could just pull the boot over. I usually secure them back in place with a zip tie around the end of the boot.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I think removing the spindle is usually the worst part of the job. I bought the socket for removing them and sometimes have resorted to beating the snot out of the socket with a 3lb sledge. As a direct result of that sort of nonsense, I clean the area really good and coat it with an appropriate amount of marine grease when I put the spindle back on.


Sent from my kite using a trebuchet

 

[Rustbucket350]

What is this socket? These spindles are absolutely stuck to the knuckle.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The socket is a piece that screws onto the threaded portion of the spindle and then connects to a slide hammer. I own one now but previously a chunk of 2x4 and a 3lb sledge worked for me. Beat on the 2x4 that is placed against the furthest out portion of the spindle, this is the threaded part. First a couple whacks towards the front, then a couple towards the back. Keep going back and forth until you have created a gap that can fit a prybar, then pry the spindle off.

 

[Rustbucket350]

I got it. It wasn't pretty and she didn't want to let it go but it came off.

 

[adsm08]

I guess I should have mentioned that part of why my ball joints go so fast is that I have had my spindles off already, so they usually just fall off once the nuts are removed.

 

[Rustbucket350]

Lmao I figured that as soon as I got it back together. Which was actually just now so 10 hours on just the drivers side. Would have been 9 but I forgot to put the caliper back on when I went to move it lol. I bet I can get the passenger side done way quicker now that I know how to get the spindle off and which way the ball joints go in. Oh... yeah... I was cranking on the lower ball joint for two hours and swearing at it. In the wrong direction. Both came out with a hammer in 5 minutes after I got that situated.

 

[adsm08]

Ball joints go up. Every one that I can think of that needs pressed moved in the direction of the stud to come out.

 

[beerhunter]

Do the axles need to come out to remove the knuckles?

Mine (1990 Ranger) as too much play on both sides - is replacing the ball joints the only cure, or is there any adjustment?

Thanks

 

[fordwheelinman]

Do the axles need to come out to remove the knuckles?

Mine (1990 Ranger) as too much play on both sides - is replacing the ball joints the only cure, or is there any adjustment?

Thanks

You could replace the whole front axle assembly....

Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Do the axles need to come out to remove the knuckles?

Mine (1990 Ranger) as too much play on both sides - is replacing the ball joints the only cure, or is there any adjustment?

Thanks

Ball joints, radius arm bushings, pivot bushings and wheel bearings will all cause the wheels to flop around.

 

[beerhunter]

Hi
Thanks for the replies. Sorry I wasn't clear. The ball joints are the problem - I just wasn't sure if they could be adjusted, or if the only thing is to replace them.
Thanks