I was given a 2002 manual xlt 4l 2x4 and the ball joints are all shot. The rubber is gone on them and the truck is squeaky as hell. It makes me laugh cause I'm sure I look goofy as hell pulling into a parking spot or up to the pumps making clown noises. Anyway, given that these are the original ball joints must I order the control arm/balll joint assembly to replace these or can the ball joints alone be removed and replaced into the existing control arms? I thought I read somewhere that the entire assemplage needs to be replaced if the originals are on there.Is it better to just replace the whole thing regardless?

 

In 2002 the lower ball joints can be pressed out of lower control arm and new ones installed

Upper ball joints are replaced with upper control arm, one piece.........might have been what you read about

You can get kits, 2 lower ball joints and 2 upper control arms

You can also buy lower control arms with ball joint installed, if you think the bushings are what making the noise

Heads up
On some years camber/castor adjustment was only installed on one upper control arm at the factory
You may need to add it to the other side
Because you will need an alignment after replacing ball joints

 

RonD has all you need to know! when I replaced mine I replaced the upper control arms and pressed in the new ball joints on the lower control arms as all the rubber bushings for the lower control arms were in great shape. And make sure you get it aligned.