Here is a follow through on installing new upper control arms and lower ball joints on 98-00 4x4 Ranger and also applies to 01+ 4x4 with a few differences. It also applies to ALL 98+ 2WD rangers minus the axle part.


Friends needed:




Tools needed:

Jack.

(2) Jack Stands.

Grease Gun.

4.5" or 7" angle Grinder. (try to get SS cut off wheels)

Framing hammer/Ball ping hammer.

3LB Mini Sledge (BFH)

Snap Ring Pliers.

1-1/16 Box wrench -or- 1-1/16 socket (1/2 dr.)

1/2" dr. Ratchet.

3/8" dr. Ratchet.

13mm 3/8" socket.

15mm 3/8" socket.

13/16" 1/2" socket.

15mm Box wrench.

Flat tip screw driver.

Adjustable wrench.

Ball joint Fork.

Cheater Bar/Breaker Bar.

Tire Iron or the like for removal of tire.


First thing we need to do is loosen the lugs.



Next, jack up the truck and place your jack stands underneath. I chose on the cross over frame connecting the control arms (lower) AND the transmission support.




Remove Wheel.



Now you will need to remove the caliper. It takes a 13mm socket on (2) bolts.





Place the caliper out of the way. You may need to use a bungee or twine.



Following the caliper is the caliper support bracket. It takes a 15mm socket on (2) bolts.



You may need to use your breaker/cheater bar.



Once the support bracket is removed, you can remove the rotor.





NOW, this is where the 98-00 differ from the 01+

Remove the hub. It kinda just pops off, be gentle.

Inside the hub, around the axle is a spring washer. Use your flat tip to fish it out of there. It will take a bit of patience. Behind the spring washer is a plastic snap ring. Remove it.


(Pic of the spring washer and plastic snap ring)



Once removed, you can tackle the hub assembly bolts. It takes a 15mm socket and there are (3).


For 01+ There will be a nut right on the end of the axle shaft. Remove this nut and the hub will slide off. (After hub removal procedure)





Now, you can move up to the upper control arm.

Remove the pinch bolt. It takes the 15mm wrench and 15mm socket.



After that is removed. Go to the bottom. Remove the cotter pin. Use the 1-1/16" wrench to remove the nut. If the BJ turns with the nut, you will need to use your angle grinder. Cut the nut off flush with the bottom of the spindle.





Once the nut is removed, use the 3LB BFH and smuck the spindle. The is a nice flat spot to the front.

***NOTE***

If the nut DID NOT require cutting, you will most likely have to use the Ball Joint Fork to remove the BJ. Place it inbetween the control arm and the spindle. Use your BFH to knock it inward. Keep at it until the spindle drops.



Now that the spindle is free. Use your BFH to hammer out the old BJ.





You can now go back to the upper control arm.

Use the 1/2" dr. ratchet with the 13/16" socket. Remove the nuts attached to the control arm bolts. You may need to use your breaker/cheater bar.









Now that everything is disassembled, its time for install of new parts.

Start with the bottom. Place the BJ in through the bottom of the lower control arm.



Use the jack to apply pressure to the bottom of the BJ. You should put the nut on the threads, I did not.



Pump the jack so it raises the lower control arm about 1.5 inches. If the truck starts to come off the jack stands, STOP! You've gone to far. Reset your stands and confirm they are in place so the vehicle does not fall.

Once you have applied pressure to the BJ, use the BFH to hammer down the control arm. DO NOT HIT THE BJ!!!!



Knock it through until it seats all the way. You may have to increase pressure from the jack as the BJ comes in.



Apply the snap ring and the zerts fitting.



Now is time to install the upper control arm. Place it in the slots. re-install the bolts and nuts. If you have T-bars cranked, install so the bolts are rotated so the thick side faces the engine. This is the camber adjustment and will push your control arms back out to compensate for the cranked bar. Just play with it, youll get it.

Grab the spindle and fit the bottom into the threaded end of the Ball Joint. While holding it up, install the nut onto the bottom.



Jockey the top around so it lines up with the upper ball joint.



Roll your jack up under the lower control arm.



Proceed to raise the jack about 1.5-2 inches. Make sure the upper BJ has started to go into the spindle.



Once you have pressure on the jack, use the BFH to knock down the upper control arm into the spindle.



It may be tough, check to make sure the spindle is staying in a straight line with the BJ shaft. If it kicks off to the side, it will never go in.



If you have done it correctly, there will be marks on the control arm from having your way with it.



Insert the pinch bolt.



Tighten the lower BJ nut as tight as you can, then line up the castle nut with the hole, insert cotter pin.





Tighten down all bolts on the upper control arm. I usually go as tight as I can, then put the cheater bar on for 1/4 turn.

Re-install the hub. If 98-00, make sure to install the plastic snap ring and the spring washer. re-install lock out.

Install rotor, caliper support bracket and caliper. Install wheel.

Done.


And now, some pics.

Before: Tire tipped inward.




After: Tire straight.



Parts: Moog Control Arms and Ball Joints.







Some before and after of truck height.

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

Nice right up, I rented the ball joint press for a small deposit, it made pretty quick work of the lower ball joints.

Sent from my ADR6350 using FRF App

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1999 Ford Ranger EXT Cab 3.0 4x4|Toreador Red|Fog lights in grill|K&N Drop In Filter|Throttle Body Spacer|2.5 Inch Dynomax Turbo SS Exhaust Cat-Back|Pro Comp 15x8 Rims|31x10.5 Pro Comp Tires|Clear Black Tails|Clear Front Signals|OHC Install|Explorer Center Console|Bucket Seats|

1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4 Banger 5 Speed|Full Tune Up|2/3 IN Drop|Front And Rear Light Tint|Konig Tremor 17X8 Rims|Thrush Turbo Muffler|DJM Calmax Shocks|Coil Pack Mod|03 Front End Conversion|8000k Hids

very nice write up man

__________________
Ford Ranger Edge Supercab, 2004 3.0 Auto, 2WD, 4.10 Axle 31x10.5x15 BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO's


My Truck Is My Mountain Bike's Ride!

Class III hitch, Rhino Bedliner, Almost Maxed T-Bar Crank, Tuff Country Add A Leaf, Custom Low Anchor Points, OEM ('99) Tow Hooks, Pro Comp Offroad Lights , Mustang Dome Light, Clear Corners, Slim Toolbox, Blinker Mod,Cargo Brake Light Mod,Expo Lighted Visors, Ultra Silverstar heads/fogs, Fog/high mod, Reverse/switched lights, Bike Fork Mounts

i did the same. but a piece of advise to the 2wd guys who want to do a spindle lift don't do what i did and do the lift first then 2 weeks later put in new ball joints. do it all at once!! it will save you a ton of headache!!!

nice write up. i never knew how to press it in with the jack. guess that works lol

__________________
-1995 ford ranger prerunner, 4.0, 4x4, 5-speed, 62k original miles, 2.5 radflo bypass front and 2.5 radflo triple bypass rear, deavers f23, 4.56 gears front and back, 07 seats, 07 mirrors, 35x12.50 bfg a/t, 4" fiberwerk glass front and rear, eagle alloy rims, 6k hid heads, two 8k hid off road lights, 34" led light bar, bed/roll cage/engine cage, 25 gallon fuel cell, cut and extended beams/radius arms
-2000 ford SVT f150 lightning -SOLD Lifted 2001 Ford Ranger EDGE, April's 2012 TOTM

NOTES from when i did mine:
1.) When i popped the lowers out, the rust and dirt around there shot out and was embedded in my skin. glad i had glasses on.
2.) I forgot to put lubricant on the first lower bj before i pressed it in. it was hell. the second bj, i cleaned the bore & put just a little pb blaster on it - made life very easy.

i've got pics - just need to do a write complimentary/supplementary up - only diff for me was having a 2wd.

edit - nice write up! i'd like to use this as a template for my future write-ups if that's ok.

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Nice Job! The only thing I would add would be to lift the suspension up to the point where the truck is starting to lift before tightening the upper control arms bolts. This locks them in the normal ride height and the rubber bushings have less torsional tension on them.

__________________
89 Ranger 4x4, 2.9 , s/cab -- it's gone
99 Ranger 4x4, 4.0 OHV, s/cab, off road package, 4.10 ltd slip, auto trans, LT215/85R16 ATs, Myer 6.5 plow
2010 Ranger 4x4, 4.0 sohc, 3.73 open, auto, s/cab, P255/70R16 RTs summer, P245/75R16 ATs winter.

Is it really necessary to remove the hub and bearing assembly?

not for my 2wd. i just had to pull the whole spindle out of the way.

__________________
1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Yes. You can not get to the bottom BJ with the axle in the way.

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

it appears like a good idea for a 4wd though

edit: oh yeah what he said^^^didn't see that

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Well that bites. Just replaced the hub and bearing assembly and was getting ready to put the wheel back on when I noticed the lower ball joint was shot. Probably should have checked it .... hindsite.

__________________
98 Ranger XLT 4WD

Yeah, its always good to replace everything at once when you tear into it. This way its a one time deal

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

Was your ball joint original equipment?

__________________
98 Ranger XLT 4WD

yeah, all of mine were OEM. Now there all moog

__________________
Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
VIDEO OHC Install

Yea, got moog as well. Just to verify, there isn't supposed to be up and down movement in the ball joint? There doesn't seem to be any play in them at the 12 and 6 spot which is why I didn't bother to do anything with them. Then when I was getting ready to replace the wheel I pulled up on the knuckle to make sure everything was tight and got quite a bit of movement

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98 Ranger XLT 4WD