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03-22-2011, 10:40 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Torn Ball Joint Boots
So when I was getting my alignment checked they let me know that my lower ball joints have torn boots with 1/16" of play. So what should I do, do I need to replace my ball joints or is there a way just to put on new boots? I am a complete noob to this stuff so any help would be great, thanks.
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03-22-2011, 10:51 PM
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SVT
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,522
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
shit my all 4 of my boots have been ripped since i bought the truck back in march of 09 actually tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary lmao anyways back on topic i've off-roaded it and went threw water up to the fogs got stuck in mud up to the top of my rim and still haven't had any problems. There f-ing tight. no play in them what so ever. Just because there boots are ripped doesn't mean you have to replace them. They can go a long time like that. if there is play yes the smart thing in that situation would be to replace them. And if your doing the lowers might as well do the uppers as well since the you have to remove the knuckle on the top a-arm anyways
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-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
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03-22-2011, 10:56 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_EDGE
shit my all 4 of my boots have been ripped since i bought the truck back in march of 09 actually tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary lmao anyways back on topic i've off-roaded it and went threw water up to the fogs got stuck in mud up to the top of my rim and still haven't had any problems. There f-ing tight. no play in them what so ever. Just because there boots are ripped doesn't mean you have to replace them. They can go a long time like that. if there is play yes the smart thing in that situation would be to replace them. And if your doing the lowers might as well do the uppers as well since the you have to remove the knuckle on the top a-arm anyways
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Good to know. Sorry is this is a stupid question, but is 1/16" play a lot of play? Should I be worried. I feel like my steering is perfectly fine, tighter than my last car, but I don't want them going out or anything.
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03-23-2011, 01:44 AM
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...............
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 23,399
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
If they are ripped the grease in side will slowly come out and they will dry up.
Once that happens you will slowly develop a thump sound when going over bumps.
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2005 Edge
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03-23-2011, 07:22 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Quote:
Originally Posted by STL
If they are ripped the grease in side will slowly come out and they will dry up.
Once that happens you will slowly develop a thump sound when going over bumps.
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So is there a way to replace the boots then so that doesn't happen?
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03-23-2011, 07:48 PM
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Science!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 369
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
replacing the ball joint. no other real way. You'd have to take it all apart to replace the boot anyway.
Cheerz!
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Current: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4x4 Automatic 4.0L SOHC
Gone but not forgotten ~ "Ghetto Blue" my 1994 Mazda B2300 5 Speed Standard Cab 4x2.
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03-23-2011, 07:51 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor Wily
replacing the ball joint. no other real way. You'd have to take it all apart to replace the boot anyway.
Cheerz!
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Thanks.
So I guess its pointless to worry about it now then. Just keep an eye on it and replace it when they start to get worn.
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03-23-2011, 07:54 PM
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Science!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 369
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
check it out yourself. put it on a jack (and stands, safety, etc etc) and grip the wheel at 12 and 6. if you shake it and feel a lot of play, you need em. if its not sooper lose, make a mental note and pay attention to it. you'll know when they are real bad and dried out cut it'll make noise on bumps and when you turn the wheel and stuff
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Current: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4x4 Automatic 4.0L SOHC
Gone but not forgotten ~ "Ghetto Blue" my 1994 Mazda B2300 5 Speed Standard Cab 4x2.
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03-23-2011, 07:58 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Yeah, I did it myself and when the mechanic did it himself he said there was about 1/16" of play. It was very minimal when I did it. The upper ball joints still have the boots intact, will having the lower ones in this condition hurt the upper ones at all?
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03-23-2011, 08:07 PM
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Science!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 369
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
I cant imagine it would but i'm not a suspension expert either, lol.
In your current condition, I cannot think of any reason 1/16th of an inch play would cause any major damage to the upper joints.
every mark on the ruler is 1/16th. Not very big.
I might be completely wrong, if someone else knows otherwise please chime in, but based on that I feel that 1/16th isn't going to be a "wheels fall off" scenario. I'd just make a note and plan to budget that in soon and decide if you're going to do it or have someone do it for you.
Cheerz!
Wily
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Current: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4x4 Automatic 4.0L SOHC
Gone but not forgotten ~ "Ghetto Blue" my 1994 Mazda B2300 5 Speed Standard Cab 4x2.
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03-23-2011, 08:26 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Yeah, I am planning to have them done during the summer. I have been reading up on the difficulty of replacing them. I am not very mechanically inclined with suspension stuff, haven't even changed my own brakes, so I think I might just pay someone to do it, but I'd like to do them myself. I don't know yet, maybe I will get some balls by the time I need to do it.
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03-23-2011, 08:42 PM
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Science!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 369
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
might not be a bad idea. find out how much a shop will charge and kinda go from there. You need a special tool to press most ball joints in and out. Autozone usually loans them I think. If you are planning to wait til summer you should start researching now to see if it something you want to take on.
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Current: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4x4 Automatic 4.0L SOHC
Gone but not forgotten ~ "Ghetto Blue" my 1994 Mazda B2300 5 Speed Standard Cab 4x2.
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03-23-2011, 08:49 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
Yeah. Thanks for all your help. I'll probably end up taking it to a shop. I need to have Cam Washers installed too to fix my camber so Ill just do it all at once. Any chance you know the price estimate on ball joints?
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03-23-2011, 08:52 PM
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Science!
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 369
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
I can look it up. You going to do upper and lower?
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Current: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4x4 Automatic 4.0L SOHC
Gone but not forgotten ~ "Ghetto Blue" my 1994 Mazda B2300 5 Speed Standard Cab 4x2.
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03-23-2011, 08:54 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 309
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Re: Torn Ball Joint Boots
I might as well so I don't have to have it all taken apart in another 20k. How are you going to look it up because I've been looking online and can't find much
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