Lower ball joints are bad

anyone got tips on changing them using only hand tools?

would this also be the reason i have a slight shake in my steering wheel at highway speeds? my thoughts are its either that or since its cold as heck here in mich that it might just be some icey snow built up in my wheels. but 17 degrees with a windchill of -4 i didnt have that much motivation to go investigate.

 

Remove, CV axle nut, upper ball joint, tie rod, lower ball joint tap the knuckle right by the ball joints and they'll pop free and swing the whole knuckle aside, remove retainer and press the bj out, new one in and put it all back together... auto zone rents a press for $99 and ya get your $ back... no problem using just hand tools..

 

Loosen the CV axle nut while the truck's still on the ground... they are supposed to be torqued to 211ft lbs also and it isn't fun if ya don't have someone to hit the brakes while ya loosen it and ya gotta put the tire back on haha

 

thanks a bunch, my friend is supposed to help me, he has done it before on his 97. i just wanted to go into it with a little more knowledge than none.

 

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/364301-how-to-replace-the-ball-joints-on-your-97-03-f-150-4x4.html

 

good stuff man thanks.

 

Haha, Yeah what he said! That's a nice write up!

 

i found a video on how to do both upper and lower ball joints. i watch youtube like tv sometimes.

YouTube - F150 Squeaky Ball Joint Replacement

 

hope you have a heated place to do it know. its f'ing cold here and yeah i did some with have tools before. its not that bad

 

my passenger side balljoint fell out when i jacked it up so that side was easy