how to torque lower ball joint 4x4 1990 ranger

[mountainmover]

hello.
cannot find info on this anywhere.

when i hit the brakes, i hear a popping on right side front. sounded like a ball joint.
tore it down and ball joints look good. what could it be?

anyways....putting in new ball joints anyways...

i cant get a socket on the lower ball joint and i cant get a closed end wrench! is there a tool for this? how do i torque it to whatever torque needed?

 

[shane96ranger]

Check your radius arm bushings. They can make that noise, and the right side usually goes bad first because it runs next to the exhaust.

 

[mountainmover]

Thanks for the reply. I hate sound stupid but what is considered the radius arm?

 

[shane96ranger]

The radius arm bushing is the red bushing in this pic. This is a 2WD, but yours is similar.

 

[shane96ranger]

You can sometimes just grab that arm and shake it, and it will clunk.

 

[mountainmover]

Ball joint stuff faces up

You can sometimes just grab that arm and shake it, and it will clunk.

Thanks so much for the picture. It's the red bushing in your pic. How to replace? Unbolt end?

And about that lower ball joint but. On a 4x4....how to get socket or boxed end wrench on it! The stud stand up instead of facing down! Any ideas?

Thanks so much!

 

[shane96ranger]

Replacing it looks a lot easier than it is. That bracket it is in is actually riveted to the frame. Those need to be cut or drilled out, and the bracket taken out. I've also heard of using a ratchet strap to pull the axle forward.

I'm pretty sure there are some how-to's on here.

 

[mountainmover]

Replacing it looks a lot easier than it is. That bracket it is in is actually riveted to the frame. Those need to be cut or drilled out, and the bracket taken out. I've also heard of using a ratchet strap to pull the axle forward.

I'm pretty sure there are some how-to's on here.

The bracket that the radius rod bolts to??? How do I reattach? Bolts?

 

[shane96ranger]

Yes, bolts are the typical replacement.

 

[mountainmover]

Yes, bolts are the typical replacement.

Thanks. So the axle can actually be shifted forward enough to slide the radius arm out with a ratchet strap? No way. If so, I guess you can get to the nut....

And about torquing that bottom ball joint...lol....no replies.

Thanks so far! A big help. I bet the popping sound is that radius arm bushing!

 

[shane96ranger]

LOL, yeah, I honestly don't know the torque procedure for the ball joint. There are several people on here that do though, and I'm sure they'll pipe in soon.

 

[bcw]

To get a wrench or socket in there you have to pull the axle shaft out for clearance. for the passenger side shaft you undo the clamp on the black rubber boot where it connects to the intermediate shaft. Then you simply pull the shaft out the knuckle. I replaced the clamp with a hose clamp like most and works great.

 

[mountainmover]

I'm thinking my I can't get my axle out cause it won't go through the spindle hub plate.

Also, mine has 27 splines! The parts store says my truck can either be a 28 or 35 spline based on a 7.5 axle or 8.8 axle. I swear...I literally can only count 27. I've had others doubt it too!

Does my truck have 1989 front end parts? It was built in December 1989.

Thanks for the help so far....

 

[4x4junkie]

12/'89 MFG date would give you the Dana35 front axle. It is 27 spline.
The 7.5 & 8.8" are the rear axles (all 7.5s are 28 spline, the 8.8 can be 28 or 31).

The spindle is held to the knuckle with five nuts. Remove the 5 nuts (after removing the rotor), pull the spindle off, and then the outer half of the axle shaft slides right out after you undo the slip-spline boot clamp.
Be prepared to do battle with some rust though, which can make removing the spindle a bear (a slide hammer & Blaster PB works wonders here). Also be sure the axle u-joint yokes are in phase when you reassemble the shaft (slip-spline).

 

[bcw]

what 4x4 junkie said is way better explained then I could lol. also in the brakes/steering tech section is a breakdown on ball joint replacement step by step with pics.