I haven't really been on this forum much for the last 7 years. I used it heavly back in 97 when I was researching my truck before I ordered it.

I now have about 96,000 miles on it and for the most part ot has served me great and I have had few problems with it.

Now for the strange reoccoring problem, maybe somebody can give me some insight.

At about 80,000 miles, Aug 03, I hade both of the lower ball joints replaced at my dealer. When I took the truck back in for state inspection in Dec. 03, 85,000 miles, the left lower joint was found to be bad and it was replaced again at no cost under ford's warranty. Then in Aug. 04, it was making some noise in the left fron tend and I took it in to get it looked at. They found the left lower ball joint to be bad again and I had it replaced. Since it was about 12,600 miles since I had it replaced the first time, I had to pay. Now here we are in Dec.
04, about 96,000 miles and when I took it in for state inspection again, the left lower ball joint was bad again. It was replaced under warranty.

Has anybody else heard of the ball joints going bad so quickly? If so, why only the lower left.
I gusee I need to get in back in the shop to be checked out next year befor the 12 month/12K mile part warranty runs out.

 

Ok, I have done some searching on here and have found many threads regarding the lower ball joints. Looks like I need to look at non Ford replacements next time with grease fittings.
If anybody has any first hand experience, I would be glad to hear from them.

Looks like I need to keep the truck another 5 years and 75,000 miles at least.

 

Moog Problem Solver front end parts are excellent replacements and have grease fittings. $36.00 at my local Car Quest parts store. Just a side note here too is to check the tie rod ends. At your mileage and even sooner is when people start having their tie rod ends pop apart. You might get a clunking noise while turning and backing up prior to them falling apart or you might not. Mine popped off without prior warning. Put the Moog's in and grease them very often so the grease doesn't get hard in the end.
I don't know why the one side would go bad so often unless there is something differnt about getting that joint in than the the other side. Maybe the installer just shortcuts it and pounds it in. When I put mine in both sides came out and went in the same. The only other thing I can think of is that the lower a-arm is somehow out of alignment on that side putting stress on the balljoint. Is the tire wearing evenly on that side and does the truck track straight?
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the input on the tie rod ends. I will check them out. I was told they were ok, but I will check for myself.

The tires are not showing any unsual ware and the truck has never been aligned. There dosent seem to be any slop in the steering at all.

As far as ball joints with grease fittings, I wonder if they will help as it seems to be wearing out in 3000 miles which is about the interval to grease them anyway. It seems crazy to think I would have to grease them with every fillup.

I do have the orginal shocks and plan to change them first chance I get. Any suggections out there on which ones to install?