[erc2alx]

2001 F250 7.3
I have ready many posts in here on front end noise. Mine started early last year. It only happens when breaking to a slow stop. And only once per stop. I have to go forward again then stop to get it to pop again. it sounds like its coming from underneath the drivers side floor board. For has diagnosed the lower ball joint on the passenger side. It does move a little, but the noise is not coming from that side. My question is... The F250 ball joints are pressed in. Can I get a simple press and do it my self? Or does it really need to be done by FORD? If so what kind of press? The only modifications I have made was to add a leveling spring to bring the front back up to where it was when I bought the trunk. the noise was there before and after. Any one else having this lately? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

 

[MrPlowJr_EZ_V]

I did this a few years back, and I wouldn't mess with it myself, I spent the better half of a day with a hammer and various presses and such trying to get them out.

Best bet is to do the labor your self, and take the knuckle to a local grease pit garage and have them press out the old ball joints and press in the new ones.


It took them 15 minutes and they charged me 15$ add that to the 5$ in gas for the riding lawn mower... it was well worth it! I did however get a wicked sunburn riding the lawn mower 4 miles both ways in the 95* summer heat.

 

[chris bottom]

your noise is more than likely the sway bar bushings or the end links........same noise on my truck at about 20k......had spring shop replace the end links with energy suspension products and had them grease up the sway bar bushings and reinstall everything cost me about a 100 bucks and never squeaked again....... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[JimTJr]

You dont say how many miles are on it,, however symptoms are identical to ball joints on my 99 when they went out. One clunk on stopping. Sway bar bushings seemed to clunk with every small bump,,had to replace those too on my 99. (Those are easy enough to diagnose,,crawl under and grab them,,see if they have any play) Ball joints are too, jack the truck up supported under the differential, let the wheel hang free, and grab it top and bottom. Check for in and out play,,I just replaced the Ball joints on both my trucks,,(had them replaced on my 03 where I bought it at..only paid for parts,) I DID them on my 99. Would I do it again? YES,, (well maybe do what the above poster mentioned,, remove spindles and have a garage do the joints,,,) You can borrow the tool from most auto stores and I borrowed the special seal insertion tool from my local FORD dealer,,,(Gave them my cc for 100.00 deposit) Took most of a weekend, but estimate for Firestone to replace them was well over 1100.00 !!!! My time was worth that to me!

 

[erc2alx]

Do you know of a good scource to get replcement parts? The local parts store was clueless. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[erc2alx]

Right now it got about 61K. I like the truck, but its had more than its share of problems. I was gonna replace the drag link today.But no parts store in town lists it in their books. Still looking on line. I picked up the ball joints and rented the tool today. looks like i now have plans for tommorow.

thanks,



New oil pump, high preasure line seals at 33k.
New glow plug sel. at 36.
New starter at 36k.
New tranny at 51K. This seems to be typical for that year.

 

[erc2alx]

I got it all tore apart and can't get the front u joints separted so I can drop the knuckly. Do you know if the front u joints arepressed on? I see what might belocking clips, but they won't budge.

 

[rusty1161]

http://www.thedieselstop.com/contents/getitems.php3?Ball%20Joint%20Installation

Check out the link for ball joint installation. It sounds like you need to pull the axle shafts out so that you can drop the knuckle out.

Rusty

 

[klhansen]

[ QUOTE ]
I got it all tore apart and can't get the front u joints separted so I can drop the knuckly. Do you know if the front u joints arepressed on? I see what might belocking clips, but they won't budge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Get a pry bar behind (inboard side) the u-joints and pop the whole axle shaft out. You can't get the u-joints apart without pulling the whole shaft.

 

[erc2alx]

Thank you so so much. I was just to scared to pull. Got it all back together minus the seals, which was too late to get this evening. Took 8 hours for one side. bet the next side can be done in half the time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif