alexlifeson2

Hello!
I have a 1993 f-150 i think it may have a bad balljoint.the front end makes a clunking noise when i drive over small bumps. and sometime when i turn the wheel at very slow speeds,like when parking. I jacked up the front end one tire at a time. the passenger side tire when i try to shake it up and down.( from 12o'clock to 6 o'clock it had a little movement in it. the driver side didn't. I am not sure if the ball joint is the problem. i was looking under the truck when i was moving the tire.
I called a local shop and they want $750 bucks to do all upper and lower ball joints and do an alinement.
I am wondering how much play the ball joint can i have before i need to be concerned. I am also concern how safe i am driving it right now. How long should i let it go?

Is anyone from the Columbus,Ohio area that knows a great shop that would change them for less?
Or is it something i could do myself? I was just thinking about just replacing the bad one.
Thanks for any info!!

sylver91

If you have back and forth movement thats normal from the wheel bearing, it helps if you have someone helping you. With the truck jacked up, push on the bottom on the tire then pull and push the top of the tire looking for that movement, repeat the same for the bottom.

Then do slight turns with the tire, look for excessive play in the tire rods.

If you have the vehicle on the ground, do a dry park test. Have someone turn the wheel and look at the drag link and tie rods for excessive movement.

Also observe you radius arm bushings which is a common problem to clunk on turns and in reverse.

If you are handy and have general tools, you can do this job yourself then just get an alignment afterwards. YOu could buy or rent a ball joint press for fairly cheap. I bought mine on sale for a bout 60$

ramblinwilly

Ditto Silver's comments. Replaced ball joints both sides, center link and tierod ends inner and outer just this weekend. First time I attempted front end work. Went relatively smoothly. Also check the condition of the shocks particularly the top and bottom mounts. Good luck.

alexlifeson2

Thanks for the replies!! It looks like the radius arm bushings are the problem. They have the rivets.. What would be the best way to change them? I like to know all the the little tricks... Some people grind them off.. What is the easiest way to change them? I would like to maybe change the radius arm brackets too...
thanks again!!

greenmachine95

You dont have to take the radius arm brackets off, you could take the coil spring off along with the axle pivot bolt and you could slide the bushings out that way. Grinding/drilling out rivets can take a while, but if you decide to go that way, make sure you buy grade 8 hardware to go in place of the rivets