Ok, so last week i got my new tires, and i went to get an alignment, and that is when they told me i need new upper and lower ball joints. They all have play in them and they quoted me almost $700 dollars to replace all two lower ball joints, two uppers with control arms, and 2 cam kits. I have been doing my homework and it does not seem like it will be terribly hard, but time consuming. I will have a ball joint press, and everything else i should need to do this on Saturday. Now when i got my second estimate to do this they never said anything about camber kits, so this leaves me unsure if i need them or not. Also would it hurt to put them on if it does not need them. Also i think i know what i am going to be doing, but if any of you who have done it have anything you ran into that caused you a problem please let me know. Also does the camber kit take much to install if i am already going to be replacing the control arms? I am going to order my parts from an online dealer, so is there anything special about the cam kit that i have to order it with? Any help appreciated

 

Get the camber kit while you are doing it (it is the bolts that hold the upper control arm on). I did uppers, lowers, and tie rods all at the same time. Its not that hard, I had a problem with getting the upper balljoint back into the spindle. Make sure you have a big sledge. You need a balljoint press for the lower. Don't bother with a spring compressor as most that you can rent will not fit.

 

if you replace the whole upper arm you definitely need an alignment

 

what all tools do you need to replace all four ball joints and the upper control arms?

 

if i just go into the auto parts store and give them my vehicle info are they going to be able to get me the correct camber kit. The cheapest spot i got both uppers and lowers is rockauto.com, it is under $300 shipped, i think i might be able to get the camber kit through them, after i do this i will have to drive about 100 miles or so before i can get it aligned, i dunno as this being such a good idea, but i dont see any other choice, unless i can go and see if they can put my old tires back on if they even have them. As far as tools i was wondering if i need a pickle fork, or will a press cut it?

 

well i placed my order with rock auto, this is what i got.
MOOG K8695T Ball Joint $ 28.79 $ 0.00 2 $ 57.58
MOOG K8708T Control Arm $ 104.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 104.79
MOOG K80068 Control Arm $ 100.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 100.79
MOOG K8674 Camber Cam Kit $ 15.01 $ 0.00 1 $ 15.01
MOOG K80065 Camber Cam Bolt Kit $ 21.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 21.79
Order Total $ 320.02

i got the 2 day delivery so hopefully they will come by Friday so i can work get them done this weekend. Do you need to get an alignment right away after you get the install, because i will probably have to drive 100 miles on it or so before i can get it aligned. Also i have been reading if i have a press i don't need a pickle fork is this correct? Thanks for the help so far.

 

Personally, I think it'll survive 100 miles. Worst thing that can happen is you wear the two front tires.

Have the alignment guy put them on the back.

 

i think they will too, i am in the process of trying to work things out so i wont have to drive it that far, but that is worst case scenario. If things work out i will only have to drive it 15 miles. I am just worried about installing the camber kit

 

hey man did you ever install everything please let me know i have to do the same thing thanks

 

The main problem with driving a hundred miles is the toe in can be really really off and wear tires bad. Toe in is the part of an alignment that makes the tires point straight ahead or be pigeon toed or splayed out. If the tires aren't pointed straight ahead they will scrub along as you drive down the road.

But it isn't hard to adjust well enough to drive. Need to scribe a line around the tire and use a measuring tape or a string and a buddy to hold the tape to the other tire. Don't worry about adjusting the two sides to try to get the steering wheel straight, just adjust one side enough to get the two tires pointing nearly striaght ahead--1/16 toed in on the front. that will be enough to get you the 100K.

Seems nuts that all 4 balljoints are going at once, but Ford really does make crappy balljoints and tie rods. Hope the ones you got have grease nipples.

The pickle fork will come in really handy to separate the old balljoints.

 

You used a sledge to put the upper into the steering knuckle? The way to do it is to pull the ball joint into it when torquing its nut down. If that doesn't work, something is wrong.

 

I don't know what your talking about, the balljoint has no nut on it whatsoever. I know my way around my front end, I've replaced everything on this suspension.