Any tips on replacing tie end rods and lower control arm on front end of 1998 f150 RWD 4.2? Have Moog parts and lower control arm has ball joint in place already. thanks.

 

Pretty straight forward. Get a pickle fork or press for the tie rods.

Spray some penetrating oil on the sleeve/threads and also the bolts for the LCA. Hopefully it comes apart without a hitch.

 

I think that pretty much covers it.

 

i do lots of tie rods at work pretty simple sometimes u need to heat them up and map gas does the trick and to seperate from the steering knuckle usualy a hammer does it or you may need a pitman arm puller which can be rented at autozone if needed. some people messure distance not sure from where to where but they do so it doest affect the alignment but it my case i always do an alignment afterwards but then again i get paid to so never tried other way. lower control arm i just replace on my truck couple months ago was a little bit of a pain in the as but not to difficult worst part was one bolt was seized to the control arm bushing and i pulled out a sawzall and plenty of blades later finally cut through and bought new bolts and nuts for like 20 bucks from ford. depending on which side you do in my case passanger side doesnt have camber bolts but driver side does and those bolts cost more. in my trucks service manual says to use a special tool to compress spring but its not needed use a jack under neath control arm and when everything is removed and loose slowly relase the jack down and spring usually has no tension but be careful

 

You measure from the end of the sleeve to the center of the ball joing end, on both ends. Also measure overall length, adjust as needed. That will get you close alignment.

 

thanks for the info i knew people would use tape messure never knew from what points that would of helped my truck the toe was off pretty bad ended up taking to firestone for lifetime alighnment deal for like 180

 

Yea I got the lifetime too. Paid for itself at least two or three times over already.

 

they sure made money on me cause i only taken it once. but i'll probably replace the outer tie rods, boots are starting to tear. they'll probably hate me cause i only will go to them for the alignments nothing else. i would do the alignments but the shop i work at our alignment rack wont do trucks.