2004 f350 4 by 4 front end question

[melmount]

Hi,
any one out there know how to tell when ball joints or the usual front end parts need to be replaced? Tie rods etc?
My truck drives fine but was wondering how to tell when replacing something will make it feel tighter? thanks for any help in advance. I have 20k on a diesel truck.

 

[fordtrucker4life!]

Welcome to the site. 20K total? The front end parts shouldn't be worn out at 20K. A sure way to tell if the front end is loose is the tires. They will appear to have a ridge type pattern. To check ball joints, you must jack up the lower control arm to check the lower ball joint and jack up the frame to check the upper ball joint. When the tire is off the ground use a pry bar and pry up on the tire. If you feel snapping or see a lot of play they are wore out. The tie rods should be checked while the front end is jacked up, but it doesn't need to be. Use pliers and squeze the joint to check for play. Also if you replace any parts you should re-align the front end.

 

[melmount]

front end question

what did you mean use pliers to check tie rod play by squeezing?
thanks for the time i appreciate it
melmount

 

[BamaSixGun]

i had to have my upper and lower ball joints replaced at around 130,000 miles.

to many back roads with grand canyon sized pot holes can be nemisis on the front end.

mine started makin alot of racket, and it sounded like a clunk with every dip, bump in the road.

the ford tech checked mine exactly like fordtrucker described.

http://powerstrokeshop.com is a good place to get MOOG greaseable ball joints, and they have a complete front end re-build kit

 

[bushpilot]

you guys know you can buy those moog ball joints (upper & lower) for
about 90 bucks (per side) @ O'Reilly Auto Parts...

autozone has grease-able ball joints (upper & lower)
for about 50 bucks (per side)...and theyre Life Time Warranty.

 

[BamaSixGun]

you guys know you can buy those moog ball joints (upper & lower) for
about 90 bucks (per side) @ O'Reilly Auto Parts...

autozone has grease-able ball joints (upper & lower)
for about 50 bucks (per side)...and theyre Life Time Warranty.

didn't know that, thanks bushy

 

[patrickc]

I replaced my factory ball joints at around 120,000 miles with MOOG but have not had to replace any of the other steering components yet. Currently I have 185,000 miles on the truck. (mostly hwy)