Ball Joint & Spindle Pin Checking
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2004 Ford Pickup, 2004 Ford Excursion, 2003 Ford Pickup, 2003 Ford Excursion, and 2002 Ford Pickup. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Raise and support vehicle. Prior to performing any inspection of the ball joints, inspect the front wheel bearings and ensure wheel bearings are properly adjusted. Grasp lower edge of tire and move wheel in and out while watching for spindle movement at lower ball joint. See Fig 1. Then perform same procedure grasping upper edge of tire and move wheel in and out while watching upper ball joint. See Fig 2. Spindle movement must not exceed 1/32" (.794 mm) at upper or lower arms, relative to axle. If movement exceeds limit, replace ball joint/spindle assembly. See SPINDLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
NOTE:
To inspect the ball joints for binding (torque required to turn), carry out the following steps.
- Place the vehicle on the alignment rack with the front wheels on low friction turn plates. Remove the outer tie-rod cotter pin and nut. Disconnect the tie-rod from the wheel knuckle.
- Install a bolt and nut through the hole in the wheel knuckle and tighten the nut. Attach a suitable click-style torque wrench that is set at 100 ft. lbs. (135 N.m) to the nut, making sure that the handle of the wrench is pointing towards the front of the vehicle.
- Pull on the torque wrench, turning the wheel knuckle outwards. If the torque wrench clicks before the wheel knuckle begins to turn, replace the lower ball joint and the upper ball joint.