Front Ball Joint Replacement

Dynomax

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I have just gone to replace a front ball joint in our 2008 Bullitt. My ball joint replacement tool kit is a basic “G clamp style” and has been unable to press the OE ball joint out. I have the arm out of the car, so I have an excellent visual on alignment of the tool. I have noticed that the original ball joint is “roll crimped” in place after the joint is pressed home. This is no doubt contributing to the retention and high loadings to remove it that are beyond my kit.


I’m looking for any comment that any of you may have. Did you experience this issue? Does the crimping require die grinding to remove any “spring back” once the old joint was removed?


I have access to a hydraulic press at a friend’s workshop and will head over there, but I wanted to get some advice first. Many thanks!
 

Juice

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There is a C clip on the ball joint. Its actualy not a very tight press fit.
 

Dynomax

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Thanks for your reply. Aftermarket uses C clip, Ford OE does not which would explain the crimping on the underside of the joint. Ford list the arm as unserviceable.
 

Juice

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I swapped out mine a while ago. lol Serviced just fine.
Just sayin'
 

thailand

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I never do the front ball joints again! I had to push the pin through before the case came out. Then the boot ripped when trying to line the pin to the knuckle. I thought I'd save a few bucks by just doing the ball joints...never again. I'll just buy the whole control arm next time. Few bolts and done.
But it is do-able, and took me a few hours. I used the trick to put the ball joints in the freezer beforehand so they would go in easier.
 

Midlife Crises

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Ford did not intend the ball joint to be serviceable. Replace the lower control arm.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Yes, Ford does list the front control arms as being unserviceable but nevertheless I had mine refurbished a few months ago with new Moog ball joints and Energy Suspension urethane bushings. The cost was only a fraction of the price of new control arms (plus shipping) and my control arms are now better than new OEM units.
 

Dynomax

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Job done! Two "tricks"..... first one was to use a large hydraulic press to remove the OE ball joint from the arm. I went to a local heavy haulage truck repair shop and used a powered hydraulic press that popped the joint out easily. The second trick was to use a die grinder to ensure that the OE roll crimp "spring back" after pressing out the OE joint was removed. It's essential not to remove too much material, all you need here is a parallel surface for the depth of the recess. With the roll crimp removed, my "G Clamp" style ball joint tool kit was able to reassemble the new joint to the arm.
 

rocky61201

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My story is a few years ago, but similar to the stories above. It was a mofo to get the original stock balljoints out. I pressed in new whiteline adjustable ball joints. They did not last long. Maybe 2 months. I ended up replacing the lower control arms with GT500 units
 

ghunt81

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I just replaced my arms as well. The ball joint appeared to be spot welded in on mine...couldn't tell, but a ball joint press wouldn't budge it.
 

oldVOR

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As others have said, replacing the entire arm is easier and the FRPP arms are cheaper than the OEM arm from a Ford dealer.
 

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