My 1999 F150, developed a squeck while turning and over bumps. From under the truck sound seems to be coming from the right side lower ball joint. After reading some of the suggestions in this forum I've decided to replace both joints. Confused about what make of ball joint to buy. The moog K8695T can be greased, Delco 45D2221 and TRW 104222 are premium joints that are permanently lubricated. Any Suggestions?

Confused in Canada

 

i just got my lower replaced with moog i think it is called, pretty good from what i have heard

 

Yeah the factory joints are 'permantly lubricated' also. You see how well that statement holds up.... Squeek. squeek..... :o

 

i suggest moog, they are very high quality

 

Another vote for Moog.

 

Thanks to everyone for your advice. Just finished installling Moog Lower Ball Joints. Bit of a job, but saved at least $500. Got free loan of a press and other tools needed for Parts Source. Great people to deal with.

Goin' down the Road
Dennis

 

You know, many people overlook the pitman arm when looking for a squeek noice in the front end and immediately think ball joints. You can heat the joint with a good heat gun or propane torch if your careful. The heat will make what grease that is left run and the squeek will go away for a while. Do one joint at a time until you have located the squeek. Hate to see people spending lots of money when they don't have to. Good Luck

 

The other thing to do is to go invest in a grease gun needle (roughly $2.50).

Slip the needle up into the joints (under the rubber cover) and replenish the lube. Quiets the front end down immediately, and can't help but to lengthen the life of the joint.

Apparently I didn't do this to my F-150 soon enough (I bought it with 67K on it), but the '99 Expy has more miles and its front end is still intact (touch wood!).

 

anybody got the part numbers handy for the moog ball joints? and opinions on where to get them for a good price?

thanks.

 

http://www.rockauto.com/

 

The ball joints are actually cheaper at Planet Auto Parts:

www.planetautoparts.com

You'll have to search by part number, not by vehicle. Fortunately you can get all the part numbers from Rock Auto.

However, I must confess that I bought all the parts at my local O'Reilly so I'm not sure how good the service is at Planet. I could have saved about $60 had I gotten them at Planet but I wanted the truck for work the next day.

If you do the job yourself, be sure to borrow the ball joint press kit from either AutoZone or O'Reilly - you will need it.

This is literally about a 4 hour job and I really took my time. I cannot understand how shops can get away with charging so much for this!

Keith

 

thanks for the info, much appreciated.

I've never done this project before, and was curious if there's a writeup how-to out there somewhere?

 

This helped me.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=364301

Use a large tiewrap, or a piece of wire, to hold the axle shaft up and out of the way. And put the new balljoints in the freezer for several hours before you press them in. They go in real easy this way.

 

I did the Moog upper joint/arm. Another vote for them.