Lower ball joints replaced.
Hi all,
I put good Moog lower ball joints in my '03 2WD (coil springs) today. The job went better than expected--much better than a similar thing I did once to an old T-Bird--but there were a few problems of note.
1) the passenger side ball stud broke free of the steering knuckle without any urging. As a result, turning the castle nut just turned the entire ball and I had to use a nutbreaker to get the nut off. Has this happened to anyone else? The driver's side went by the book.
2) the Harbor Freight press does a great job getting the old BJs out but it isn't wide enough to get the new BJs in unless you fiddle with it. I had to use a steel plate with the receiving cup on the top of the control arm.
The OE ball joints are toy-like compared to the Moog replacements.
__________________
2003 Ranger XL "So white, so white, refrigerator white."
2.3 Duratech, 5-speed auto, air, hose-'em-out interior.
The perfect appliance!
|