Kregerdoodle Posted February 20, 2010 #1 Posted February 20, 2010 I have a `97 Ford F250HD w/287k on the clock..... question is, The front tires are leaning in at the top.... how do I tell if its upper and lower ball joints or what?? I just put new tires on it so need to fix this asap, like today.... just hoping its not King pins. I have never had to do any front end repairs on it, so it probably really needs it with the miles I got on it. Thinking about just changing the ball joints out any way, as they are probably shot, it tracks straight when I let go of the wheel, and I don`t hear anything making noise.... any help would be great.. Thanks
Monty Posted February 20, 2010 #2 Posted February 20, 2010 To check the ball joints, jack it up until the front wheel is about 6 inches off the ground. Then take a big bar and put it under the tire from the outside, going inside. Use the bar as a lever, as if you were trying to lift the tire some more. wiggle the bar up and down slowly, while watching for play in the ball joints. If it's like my F150, the lowers aren't too bad. You just need to borrow a ball joint press from auto zone if you don't have one. On mine, you have to replace the whole upper control arm, instead of the upper ball joint. If the joints are ok, then you need to see if an alignment shop can adjust the camber.
stroker ace Posted February 20, 2010 #3 Posted February 20, 2010 It should have ball joints and not king pins ( one or the other not both ). I would think the front springs have gotten weak and let the front end settle ( / \ ) like on some of the low riders. A set of new springs ( | | ) back good as new my opinion, with that many miles probably needs ball joints also.
MiCarl Posted February 20, 2010 #4 Posted February 20, 2010 I would think the front springs have gotten weak and let the front end settle ( / \ ) like on some of the low riders. A set of new springs ( | | ) back good as new my opinion, with that many miles probably needs ball joints also. This is a good point. Ball joints bad enough that you can see a change in camber should sound like a dump truck with three bowling balls in back.
Kregerdoodle Posted February 20, 2010 Author #5 Posted February 20, 2010 LOL No bowling ball sounds... I didn`t even think about the springs being shot.... I went out to work on it this morning after posting this, and found that my floor jack went south, as soon as I came back in the house, one of our ( Venture)Family members gave me a call to see if I wanted to go burn up some of our natural resorces...and that was all the arm twisting that I needed...man what a great day!!! Thanks Kelly, I needed that as bad as you did... This is a good point. Ball joints bad enough that you can see a change in camber should sound like a dump truck with three bowling balls in back.
irydasteelhorse Posted February 20, 2010 #6 Posted February 20, 2010 i have a 95 HD f-250 4x4 with 206,000 on the clock (great truck by the way). these trucks use shims in the front to keep them straight. if, like mine, the miles have taken their toll, its beyond factory tollerances, and there is an aftermarket kit with an "egcentric" shape to them, and this will straighten em right out. any good front end repair shop will be able to get em for ya. they arent cheap though, couple hundred, plus install. best bet is when yer finished, get an alignment too.
lonestarmedic Posted February 20, 2010 #7 Posted February 20, 2010 Kreg- Is it a 4WD? Ford has the famous twin traction beam front end. On the 4WD weak front springs cause the lean you describe due to the construction of the suspension. This can also happen to 2WD in the same way. I have an E350 with front coils and ball joints. It is an old U-Haul. When loaded heavy, the front springs compress and the geometry of the front suspension causes the top to tilt inward. The answer is new springs. On a leaf sprung 4WD you can use an add-a-leaf. The trick is it takes a 1 1/2 leaf kit due to the construction of the spring pack. On a coil spring front you can put air bags inside the coils. We often did this to E350 ambulance chassis' due to the chronic overloading. I am thinking of putting bags in the old U-haul. I installed new coil springs but still see the tilt when fully loaded. This tilt will cause the ball joints to wear out faster. Neither item is that hard to repair. Just remember to watch the load on the springs. If they are under compression bad ju-ju can happen when things slip. JB
Kregerdoodle Posted February 20, 2010 Author #8 Posted February 20, 2010 JB, Its 2WD.... as soon as I get a new jack, I`ll check the ball joints and then will price the new springs and or air bags.. the only weight on it is the 7.5lt 460CI that its holding up.... Kreg- Is it a 4WD? Ford has the famous twin traction beam front end. On the 4WD weak front springs cause the lean you describe due to the construction of the suspension. This can also happen to 2WD in the same way. I have an E350 with front coils and ball joints. It is an old U-Haul. When loaded heavy, the front springs compress and the geometry of the front suspension causes the top to tilt inward. The answer is new springs. On a leaf sprung 4WD you can use an add-a-leaf. The trick is it takes a 1 1/2 leaf kit due to the construction of the spring pack. On a coil spring front you can put air bags inside the coils. We often did this to E350 ambulance chassis' due to the chronic overloading. I am thinking of putting bags in the old U-haul. I installed new coil springs but still see the tilt when fully loaded. This tilt will cause the ball joints to wear out faster. Neither item is that hard to repair. Just remember to watch the load on the springs. If they are under compression bad ju-ju can happen when things slip. JB
Ponch Posted February 22, 2010 #9 Posted February 22, 2010 K, come by the house tomorrow. I got a jack you can use. We can look at it at my house or you can borrow the jack.
footsie Posted February 22, 2010 #10 Posted February 22, 2010 If its got 287,000, you need spings,. ball joints and A-frame bushing. You can buy a ball joint tool from harbor freight for about 25 bucks. And the last ford frount end I did the parts were not overly expensive from oriely's. If I remember right, the joints, bushing and spings were just under $300.
Kregerdoodle Posted February 22, 2010 Author #11 Posted February 22, 2010 David, I may be on the bike today, I havent seen the weather yet, but can bring the truck by Tuesday, if you can just point out whats bad, and what I need to get, that would be great.. Janet baught me a new jack yesterday, should be here by the weekend, and it will take me that long to get what ever parts I need.... Thanks, Kreg K, come by the house tomorrow. I got a jack you can use. We can look at it at my house or you can borrow the jack.
Squidley Posted February 22, 2010 #13 Posted February 22, 2010 Let me know when you want to do it Kreg and I'll come over and help you get it done.
Kregerdoodle Posted February 22, 2010 Author #15 Posted February 22, 2010 Heck ya!!! Gotta keep the old beast on the road!!! We could have a Ford Maitenance Day....
wes0778 Posted February 22, 2010 #16 Posted February 22, 2010 Let me know when you want to do it Kreg and I'll come over and help you get it done. Kreg, I can vouch for him, he makes a pretty good helper!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2:
BuddyRich Posted February 22, 2010 #17 Posted February 22, 2010 Kreg, I can vouch for him, he makes a pretty good helper Just be sure to tell him....This is a wrench...Not a hammer..when you hand Squid tools... :rotf:
Kregerdoodle Posted February 22, 2010 Author #18 Posted February 22, 2010 LOL:rotfl: Whats he tryin to say Brad???? Just be sure to tell him....This is a wrench...Not a hammer..when you hand Squid tools... :rotf:
lonestarmedic Posted February 22, 2010 #19 Posted February 22, 2010 Kreg- I have duct tape and various sizes of hammers. I can even supply a metric version. Should be all you need to fix a Ford. When you hit your knuckles with the metric hammer, you have to learn how to curse in Japanese! JB
Squidley Posted February 22, 2010 #20 Posted February 22, 2010 Just be sure to tell him....This is a wrench...Not a hammer..when you hand Squid tools... :rotf: LOL:rotfl: Whats he tryin to say Brad???? He's just jealous that I am an EXPERT with a hammer, not merely an apprentice
Kregerdoodle Posted February 22, 2010 Author #21 Posted February 22, 2010 OK, but what if JB brings me his Metric hammer ?? Smart guy EXPERT!! Then what??? :duck: He's just jealous that I am an EXPERT with a hammer, not merely an apprentice
Squidley Posted February 23, 2010 #22 Posted February 23, 2010 OK, but what if JB brings me his Metric hammer ?? Smart guy EXPERT!! Then what??? :duck: Then I hit it in Millimeters and not inches!.... Come on, Bring it on I can take it!!!!
Squeeze Posted February 23, 2010 #23 Posted February 23, 2010 Hey Guys, you all got that wrong !!! lonestarmedic has the metric Duct Tape !!! The Hammers are still in Inches ... :missingtooth:
Squidley Posted February 23, 2010 #25 Posted February 23, 2010 The Hammers are still in Inches ... :missingtooth: ....but Lutz....the hammers are made in China and Taiwan now
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