I have a 2006 F-150 2WD with around 60,000 miles, and mechanic says lower ball joints are bad; they are moving and they shouldn't. He wants to replace lower control arm ($500). However, I think ford can replace ball joint for less, but it would be the same crappy ball joint. Advice?

 

Seeing as you're a new member, I suggest you use the Search Feature as this (and many other topics for your 2006) have been covered. You may also want to spend some time in the How To's section...LOTs of great info there.

For your BJs, you need to replace your upper control arm with an aftermarket UCA and the BJ is serviceable (has a grease fitting) and can be replaced in the future (unlike the OEM UCA). Your lower BJ is pressed out using a ball joint press kit. The lower control arm is NOT replaced, just the BJ. I suggest looking for Moog parts and they can be found on Rockauto.com.

 

My mechanic got me $900 for lower ball joints with replacement arms. DONT let yours get you with that.

 

OK sounds good. Just what I need to hear. Much appreciated. And yes I tired the search feature, but could not get it to show any results. I don't know if anyone else is having similar problems.

 

If you have a 4wd and are mechanically inclined it shouldn't be too hard.

If not I'd have a shop do it.

 

Read my thread I did to describe how to do it. https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...-provided.html You can change all joints for under $260.00 worth of parts. Not hard at all, just frustrating at times.

 

Yeah…I’ll be honest; I don’t know if I could do it myself. But I may have to try, seeing as though I’m developing serious trust issues with Ford and my mechanic. I’m sure this has already been covered but I know you guys love talking about trucks so…listens to this load of BS…

Ford says: CANNOT JUS REPLACE LOWER BJ ALONE, (contrary to what you guys say) and need to buy lower control arm (factory, $400-450 for both). [Let me add that this is insane for only 60,000 miles, driving on paved roads] If I go that route, those replaced notorious factory BJs will only last another 60,000 and I’ll be in the same boat again…So if I want MOOG, my mechanic says: CANNOT JUST REPLACE LOWER BJ ALONE, need to order MOOGS’s lower control arm ($500 A PIECE!)

Both are telling me different than you guys in every way possible, but both want my money. I don’t want to believe that they are lying to me to take my money, so somebody clear this up for me. This is bigger than BJs now. Why are they telling me different? I’m ready to either be taught a life lesson, or read a technical response to why their computers are saying that I need to spend a lot of money.

 

Sounds like they just want to take your money. If you click JohnBenoit09's thread I posted a picture of my truck pressing out the lower ball joint in it.

Next time a shop tells you no way, come take them to your truck and show them the snap ring in the lower ball joint and say "this ball joint was pressed in and can be replaced. Undo the snap ring and press out the ball joint and press in a new one"

The top UCA cannot be replaced. The whole arm has to be replaced as the unit is not removable.

Sorry to hear about these guys jerking you around!

 

Ford is telling you a line. I just did mine last weekend following instructions from this message board along with a few YouTube How To videos that are out there. It's not overly bad, and I am no where near an auto mechanic. I ordered the upper control arms and lower BJ's from Rock Auto. Was around $220 or so. I would say it took about 6 hours were 4 hours was the first side. Once I figured it out the second side was cake. You can get the C-clamp press from Autozone and they will credit you 100% of the money when you return it.

 

Actually no one's jerking him around.

You CAN replace the lower ball joint with out replacing the control, but the control arm is aluminum. I've done 3 or 4 expeditions/f150s where we've had to replace the control arm because the hole enlarges sometimes and the bj's wont sit properly.. ie it would still move. We always tell them we can replace just the bj, but there's a possibility we'd have to replace the control arm.

 

"We always tell them we can replace just the bj, but there's a possibility we'd have to replace the control arm."

That's the way it should be put to the customer and explained why. Most shops don't go to that trouble and people leave with a bad taste in their mouth over it.

 

Just did MOOG (I recommend MOOG) lower ball joints on mine and the hole was fine, depends on the wear. ost of the time just the ball joint needs replacing. Also did the upper control arms and outer tie rid ends while I was in there. Total was $325 for parts and I paid a friend from here to do the install.

Thread about it.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...omponents.html

 

well sounds good. thanks for the sound information. love this forum.

 

9/10 out of ten it's going to be fine just replacing the ball joint. You'll know after a couple days.. they usually start hearing a clunk or something if the arms worn out

 

Not to derail the thread but did the ball joint still fit really tight into the oval-ized control arm? We just did another friends truck and are getting a popping from one side. I can't imagine the arm socket is loose because it was hell pressing the ball joint into the control arm... Not sure where the popping is coming from as it is random.

He will find out when it goes back on the rack.