I had my truck in the shop yesterday getting an alignment done for my 2" leveling kit, and the guy tells me my ball joint is shot and it gave him issues. I thought (correct me if im wrong) that both the upper and lower control arms had ball joints on them. So i asked him which it was, and he looked at me like I had 4 heads. I checked a favorite ebay store of mine that sells suspension parts and he only offers upper control arms.

so now my mission is two fold. 1) is there an easy way to determine which of the (4?) ball joints is bad? and 2) is it easier just to replace the whole control arm rather than screwing around with the press fit ball joints?

 

I just changed the 4 ball joints in my 1999 F150.

The upper ball joints come installed in control arms, along with the bushings.

The lower ball joints are pressed into the lower control arms, and are purchased individually.

 

I've never done anything with pressed ball joints before, but i do know just about any parts store rents the tool for it. How bad is it to do your own ball joints?

 

youll need to have a good press to actually get the balljoints into the lower control arms, as far as the upper its as easy as unbolting the old ones and bolting in the new ones

 

is it a special press or can i use any hydraulic press?

 

you need a ball joint press

 

i used a hydralic press with some sockets on my old 95's balljoints but i also had help with experienced uncle and another set of hands lol

 

Since the lower ball joints mount in aluminum, I wouldnt suggest doing it yourself. Itd be cheaper to have it done than to mess up the lower control arm and have to replace it.

 

it's hard to mess up the lower arm if you got a ball joint press, if you don't have one, good investment.

 

Do they need to be changed out often enough to warrant buying a press?