ball joints and tie rods help

I took truck to shop tires bowed inward.They told me the the upper and lower ball joint.Also the inner and outer tie rods were worn out.$1100.00!!! So i called parts place and about 140.00 for parts.Do i need special tools and any trick i need to know.First time doing anything like this

ball joints are a very difficult task to take on if you haven't done them before. you will need a special press to get them in and out. call around to some local parts stores to see if they do loan a tool on the ball joint press. i'll do some digging later on today to see if i can find a link for the "how to" on the ball joints for you

the tie rods are relatively easy though. get a big pipe wrench to get the old ones off. and a hammer to wack them lose.

have you ever done the 2x4 on the tires trick to make sure that you have the tie rods turned enough?

AutoZone has a tool rental program where you pay for the tools, and when you return them you get your money back provided you keep your reciept, and you return them within 30 days.

You'll want to get

torque wrench

A - "1 5/16th" in socket.. I used a 34mm it was a little loose, but worked. I installed MOOGs, and I think the old ones came off with a 1 1/4 inch socket, but the replacement used a slightly larger nut. I couldn't find a 1 and 5/16 inch socket on the spur of the moment.

ball joint press

hammer puller

spindle nut puller adapter so that you can pull the spindle with the hammer puller

air tools make the job easier.

a work bench with a vice is also helpful

You'll have to pull your locking hubs out, for mine I needed this tool



For tips, please see posts 1,9, and 10 of this thread

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?s=&...ost&p=77878

I just rebuilt my whole front end last month( including the ball joints). The only special tool that I needed was a heat source (Torch). I just used a large socket ( long enough to clear the bolt and wide enough to sit on the outer lip) and with the help of someone holding the knuckle beat it in with a 32oz hammer. So far so good. And that spanner wrench thats in question.. Its like $20 and you'll never know when you'll need to use it again. Mine has paid for itself over and over again. Also one tip that i ran into. If you go online to JBG they sell a front end maintenance kit. Its $199.00, and it has 2 sets of ball joints, and everything that you might want to replace while you are doing the ball joints. Its a little extra but in my mind its better to replace the wheel bearings and so on while your in there. Here's the JBG Link: http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-32079A...nde_joints_.htm

when you jack the front of your truck up do you have play in the wheels? your wheels can be tilted in like that if your toe in/out is wrong. typically you want between 0 and 1/8" toe in so your tires point to a line way out in front of your vehicle. this keeps it going straight. if you have a bit of toe out its possible that when you drive you are actually getting camber gain from the suspension loading up. This is common when shops align the ttb front end and put too much toe in, when you back into a parking spot the wheels are both tilted in. before you go go getting everything just make sure they are bad, i dont know about the shops around you but there are some shady ones out there.

ball joint tool can be rented most places. it really helps to have an air comp and an impact gun. the socket that joe pictured is needed if you plan on owning your ford for any length of time. they are cheap too.