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1997 - 2003 Ford F150 General discussion on the Ford 1997 - 2003 F150 truck.

Ball joints = cant align ???

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Old Apr 12, 2012 | 11:31 PM
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2000MTZ's Avatar
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call me Randy
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Default Ball joints = cant align ???

After I got my steering box replaced I needed an alignment. So I took it and got an alignment, they got the toe in the green but they said my ball joints were completely shot so they couldn't get the caster and camber set, but when I jacked my truck up the other day to replace my brakes I couldn't move the wheel at all, it didn't have any wobble to it. Wouldn't you be able to kinda wobble the wheel if both ball joints were 'completely shot' ??
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Old Apr 12, 2012 | 11:39 PM
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jack it up under the control arm, take a pry bar and lift up under the tire, have someone watch the lower. it will move. then take a prybar, stick it in the upper shock mount and pry down on the upper control arm. youll feel the play in the balljoint if they are indeed bad. my balljoints were shot and i couldnt feel any play by hand untill I used a bar.
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Old Apr 12, 2012 | 11:51 PM
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I'll try that. But I still don't think my alignment should be this far off because of it. The inside of my passenger side tire is wearing real fast
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Old Apr 13, 2012 | 10:19 AM
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Just pop the tire off n pop the upper control arm off n grab that ball joint n see how hard it is to move around
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Old Apr 13, 2012 | 11:41 AM
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Using a prybar is the easiest and quickest way. With even slightly wore ball joint you cast and camber will constantly change.
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Old Apr 14, 2012 | 12:46 AM
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if you removed the upper control arm your alignment would deffinatly be off when you put it back on. dont use that method.... and car crazy is right, thats why ur tire is wearing like that
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