My Haynes manual says the 4X2 has grease plugs (but not fittings) on the upper and lower ball joints and what looks in the photo like on the outer tie-rod ends. The manual says to buy fittings and grease them. Is that right? It's minus 20 where I live and snowing currently like crazy. I'm not going to crawl under and look.

Has anybody done this? Are these joints the kind you can grease (the kind that the old grease oozes out when the new grease goes in)?

 

I don't thnk anyone has found more than two grease fittings, both on the steering arm.
If you find more let us all know.


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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs

 

T.: I know about the 2 fittings on the idler arm. Greased them on my '98. But are there plugs on the ball joints and tie-rod ends? Has anybody looked?

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

I'm not sure about the newer models, but throughout the 1990s (and late 1980s) Ford did not put ball joints with grease fittings on new trucks. The only alternative was to buy aftermarket ball joints with grease fittings, which is what I ended uo doing on my '94.

 

Hey guys, my question is still not answered. Has anybody out there got good weather and can go out and check to see if there are any plugs on the ball joints and steering arms that can take grease fittings?

(Today, the temperature flew up to minus 17 degrees Celsius where I live.)

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

all i found were 2 when i took apart the front end for the drop!

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pacific green 97 f150 4.6l..reg cab flareside 150XLT ,ROUSH suspention down 3 fr and3.5rear,3.55LS,snug lid,carpeted bed, painted tailight accents,4x4 grill &bumper,k&n,SUPERCHIP(THANX MIKE),ram air kit,valvoline synthetic,accel super stock wires,platinum plus4 plugs,flow master muff,blue halogen bulbs, speed-glo dash,carbon fiber gauge accent,..."#6 sticker!!!!"
STEREO:eclipse head unit ,boston seperates ,orion amp, pioneer amp,2-orion 12's,custom box by me!,sony adjustable crossover,1 farad cap&way to many cd's

 

Thanks, Roushfan-1. You answered my question. The Haynes manual is obviously wrong.

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

The manual says some of front end parts have plugs in them that can be taken out and grease fittings inserted. I found at least four places where fitting can be inserted. Going to try my luck at them and see what happens. My truck 1998 f-150.

 

Maybe this weekend I can get back under the truck and be a little more specfic where the plugs are located. I could feel the plastic plugs with my hand.

 

Dixie Truck: Did you try fitting grease nipples? Just curious if you'd had a chance yet?

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

Shifter....To my surprise the parts have no places for fittings to be inserted at all. The places on the front end components are high places left from the way they were cast. I guess one could disassemble the whole front end piece by piece and then put the fittings in. Ford must want us to either junk the truck or buy more front end parts to make them richer. If I would have known this and a few other things I would not be driving ford. This will probably be my 1st and last one. Sorry to be so negative but thats the way I feel....I will drive this truck until it dies or the front end falls out. Hope it will last 10 yrs at least. bye...