I have an '06 Fx4 with ~196,000 miles. I need to replace the lower ball joints, UCA, tie rod ends, struts if $ allows; on both sides. How long will this take for a amateur wrencher with no air tools? Obviously I will go get an alignment after.
How long will this take? A few hours.. a day...?

 

If you don't have air tools, at least make sure you have a breaker bar. Probably shouldn't take more than a few hours if this is your first time in there, if you're doing both sides I would just plan for half a day. You can get it done in less than that, but just plan on it

 

You can do the job in less than 8 hours if you have all necessary tools and parts available.
Would be a shame to do this work and not replace the struts at the same time.
Get the struts before you do the job.

There are many good videos on YouTube detailing how to replace the parts and what tools are necessary.
Do your study before you start the job. Look at numerous videos to be sure you understand all the details.

PS.... Get the Quickstruts. They are complete with springs installed making the installation much easier and safer.
Take a look on Amazon for Monroe Quickstruts for a standard height suspension. Lifted or leveled - Rancho may be your best bet.

 

I just did struts (swapped my FX2 springs over to new Monroe Reflex struts as I didnt want to alter ride height), lower ball joints, tie-rod ends, sway bar end links and sway bar bushings and rear Monroe Reflex shocks. I did the upper control arms 6 months ago due to alignment problems. I had air-tools but it took me all of 8 hours to do. I am very meticulous and methodical and suffer from severe OCD.....

A month later I converted the air-suspension on my 07 Expedition, all new coil-over struts at each corner, lower control arms, upper control arms, swaybar end-links, sway bar bushings, tie-rod ends, 4 new rotors and all new pads. That took easily 12 hours, had a couple stubborn bolts on that one.

 

With no air tools on the floor I'd plan on having fun with it for about 3 hours a side. 2 if your not messing around and the tie rods aren't mechanically welded on. Make sure you tighten the struts down (the lower bolt on the LCA) at ride height if you do them at the same time, or you'll be doing them again in the not so distant future. If i remember right air tools are pretty useless doing the uppers anyways.

 

It really depends. If you've never done it, or anything like it before, give yourself the whole day.

The first side you do will be a learning experience and will take the longest. The opposite side will go much smoother.

I replaced my upper and lower bj's, inner and outer tierods and sway bar links with moog problem solvers. I used Monroe Quickstruts as well. Took me the better part of the day. I had air tools, but didn't use them much. Find yourself a large beaker bar too. That bottom shock bolt is on there at 352 lb/ft, I believe.

You can also get a ball joint press for free from most auto parts stores. They require a deposit, but fully refund it when you return it.

 

Hard to estimate a time, as it depends on skillsets, tools, and how stubborn or not the old parts are to get off. A good ball joint puller, or the BFH rapping on the joint can break then loose.

But if we make this a challenge at estimating time, I'll say 12 hours, 15 minutes, and 26 seconds.

Closest to the correct time can ask Lenn for a T-shirt.

Good luck with getting a shirt or sticker from Lenn!

 

Im shooting for the weekend of the 24th, my wife and kids will be outta town. My father in-law is a retired mechanic he shown me a lot but this will be my first major repair solo.

 

One tip that helped when I did my leveling on my 08, was for the 3 nuts on top of the struts. That back one is a huge pain in the butt to get too from the wheel well. To much stuff in the way. But you can get to them from the engine compartment pretty easily if you have a long enough extension for your racket set.

The outboard nuts are pretty easy to get too.

 

Blast the nuts with penetrating oil and let them soak for a good hour or two if your not using air tools.