Upper and lower ball joints

[CKyle494]

My 00 350 is getting an overhaul, the engine is smoking and using oil at the rate of 1 quart per 200 miles. While it is in the shop I'm gonna have the ball joints replaced they have 221,500 on them and it kinda walks around driving. The big question I have is, what is a GREAT QUALITY upper and lower ball joint for my 4x4 and what kind of price would they be? I found some at rockauto.com

(SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5051181 More Info {Professional Grade}
Front Suspension; Lower; Four Wheel Drive (4X4)) and (SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5001048 More Info {Professional Grade}
Front Suspension; Upper; Four Wheel Drive (4X4))

Does anyone know if they are any good? I need to order them soon. Thanks in advance Chris

 

[BJS]

those are going to be equivalent to OE, most people have gone with MOOG greasable joints so with routine maint they will last a bit longer. powerstrokeshop.com had a great combo deal on everything you needed to rebuild the entire front end.

 

[CKyle494]

Thanks Brandon I am going there now to check them out.

 

[howardsvm]

ball joints

three years ago when I did my ball joints i found out that you can't put the upper ball joints greese fittings in they hit the u joint . I don't have the cure just the problem. Some say thats the way it is

 

[CKyle494]

I had read that on some other post. One said that he had 45 degree fittings on his 4x4 but recommended to use 90's. I don't know? Maybe if I get the ones without the upper fittings they will last another 220k. Right now I have 79k on a set of Michelin tires and the wear is great, just starting to get the outside edges to wear a little more than the rest. Still have about 25 to 30k left on them (alot of highway use).

 

[jestersv]

make sure you do the hub seals also.

 

[DaveBen]

I couldn't get the grease fitting to work on mine. I got 100,000 miles on mine.

Dave

 

[no-red 6 0]

i heard you use an 'angled' fitting and file off just enough to get it to fit...iirc: i saw it somewhere too...

 

[BIG DUTY]

I installed the Moog ball joints at the end of december. I got the kit from the powerstroke shop and it was a great deal. As far as the grease fitting, The upper can be greased and here is how. You install the ball joint without the 90* fitting installed. You then remove the plug they provide in the kit and install the 90* fitting. After you grease the joint you need to remove the fitting and replace it with the blank plug.

 

[02stroker]

Had my ball joints done at the dealership. Upper joints have a straight fitting in them. Takes a special adapter for the grease gun that slides onto the fitting instead of on from the top, but it's a small price to pay for being able to grease them.

Lower joints have a 90 degree fitting in them, both pointing back.

220,000+ on you'r ball joints? That's amazing. I replaced mine at 85,000. Maybe it's the lousy roads here in PA.