Is Chilton correct about our ball joints?

[StoneGuy]

I took my truck in to get an alignment after replacing the drag link ends and the tech. told me my left ball joint is real sloppy. According to Chilton the 99 SD ball joints are not replaceable but the tech said they could be pressed out and replaced. Which one is right?
Regards,

Dwight

[nodd89]

Hahahaha.....they are replaceable one way of the other...what do u expect a common wear component to wear out and then what u buy a new truck?

[MountainWays]

Book is wrong. Had my replaced last fall, upper and lower. Not cheap but can be done.

[StoneGuy]

Originally Posted by nodd89

Hahahaha.....they are replaceable one way of the other...what do u expect a common wear component to wear out and then what u buy a new truck?

Well, that's where I was confused. I had them replaced before but really didn't look into it more than that, things were busy, I waking good money and I just paid the bill without question. Since I'm enjoying doing a lot of the work on the truck myself and enjoying the savings I am entertaining doing ball joints myself. I wanted to make sure I didn't have to buy a new knuckle or if I could just have a supsension shop press the old ones out and new ones in for me.
Regards,

Dwight

[Quickhorse]

Originally Posted by StoneGuy

Well, that's where I was confused. I had them replaced before but really didn't look into it more than that, things were busy, I waking good money and I just paid the bill without question. Since I'm enjoying doing a lot of the work on the truck myself and enjoying the savings I am entertaining doing ball joints myself. I wanted to make sure I didn't have to buy a new knuckle or if I could just have a supsension shop press the old ones out and new ones in for me.
Regards,

Dwight

You can buy a manual ball joint press tool for around $80 and do it yourself but I ended up resorting to the small 12ton press as well. Definitely worth just dropping off and having a shop swap them out if you have the extra cash. Just make sure you get the right ball joints.

[StoneGuy]

Originally Posted by Quickhorse

You can buy a manual ball joint press tool for around $80 and do it yourself but I ended up resorting to the small 12ton press as well. Definitely worth just dropping off and having a shop swap them out if you have the extra cash. Just make sure you get the right ball joints.

And that's exactly what I wound up doing. I borrowed a press from O'Reillys. They let you use them for free if you bring it back within 48 hours. The press wasn't complete though. I had to buy some varying lenths of steel pipe from Lowe's and with a little playing around I pressed out the old ball joints and pressed new ones in on the left side. My seals were shot but I needed the truck for work so after I buttoned everything up I bought new seals for both sides and new ball joints for the right side. I replaced the left side seals 2 days later and just last Saturday I replaced the right side ball joints and seals using a press I bought at Harbour Freight. I figure the money I saved more than made up for the new tools I added to my collection to complete the job. Years ago when I had a shop do the work for me it cost me $1800 including tie rod ends and drag link. I think my cost in parts and new tools was somewhere around $600. I wish I had a 3/4" drive socket set though. It's on my wish list.
Regards,

Dwight

[Quickhorse]

Originally Posted by StoneGuy

And that's exactly what I wound up doing. I borrowed a press from O'Reillys. They let you use them for free if you bring it back within 48 hours. The press wasn't complete though. I had to buy some varying lenths of steel pipe from Lowe's and with a little playing around I pressed out the old ball joints and pressed new ones in on the left side. My seals were shot but I needed the truck for work so after I buttoned everything up I bought new seals for both sides and new ball joints for the right side. I replaced the left side seals 2 days later and just last Saturday I replaced the right side ball joints and seals using a press I bought at Harbour Freight. I figure the money I saved more than made up for the new tools I added to my collection to complete the job. Years ago when I had a shop do the work for me it cost me $1800 including tie rod ends and drag link. I think my cost in parts and new tools was somewhere around $600. I wish I had a 3/4" drive socket set though. It's on my wish list.
Regards,

Dwight

Good for you . . . that's the way to be . . . I just got done doing manifolds, up-pipes and turbo Y. Talk about fun!

[StoneGuy]

Originally Posted by Quickhorse

Good for you . . . that's the way to be . . . I just got done doing manifolds, up-pipes and turbo Y. Talk about fun!

That's on my list as well since I have the early 99'. Did you go with a kit or buy everything seperate?
Regards,

Dwight

[Quickhorse]

Originally Posted by StoneGuy

That's on my list as well since I have the early 99'. Did you go with a kit or buy everything seperate?
Regards,

Dwight

I bought the stock up pipes off a guys on here and he ended up giving me the Y with it so I have an extra one if you need that. I bought the Dorman manifolds separate. One from Summit racing and the other from Federated Auto Parts.

I bought the bolts, up pipes donuts, passenger EBV fitting and such from Ford. Cost me $180.

All in all I think I had just under $500 in parts but saved a ton in labor costs by doing it myself. It wasn't fun. Had to torch off the heads of the bolts then weld new nuts on to the studs and turn them out after the manifold was out of the way. I also tapped the holes out on Y while I had that out. Bought a new 6637 filter from Napa and it's back to coaling people as my son would say.