What parts should I replace in front suspension?

[RedfireSVT]

my front suspension is feeling a little loose and i think it's time to replace some bushings at the very least. also all the rubber boots around the zerk fittings are cracked and lube is leaking out of them so all those need to be replaced. i'm really not a suspension expert but i have been told these trucks wear the front suspension parts quickly. my question is what all should i replace? i was going to get Moog parts from Rockauto but i'm really not sure what i need or what all i should replace. other then the boots leaking everything looks fine but i can tell by driving it that the front end feels sloppy. if anyone could give me a run down of what all i should replace i would appreciate it.
truck is an 05' excursion 6.0
4x4 with 96,000 miles
4 or 6" lift on it as well

[dfuzz78]

Ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar, steering stabilizer, drag link, etc, etc... You have to get under there and see what is loose to really be able to tell. Have someone shimmy the steering wheel while you look under there. Also, be careful of Rockauto, I just bought Moog parts but received Ford parts with the logos ground off. AND they came in Moog boxes!

[mtpolarbear]

I replaced ball joints, front axle u-joints, tie rods etc. everything in the front suspension at 100k. Truck feels just like brand new. Also if you have a sway bar I recommend new bushings. New bushings alone will make a huge difference. Also I bough from Rock Auto and had great success with them. All Moog products.

[Galaxie]

For me: Front U joints all rod ends. Track Bar.

[dfuzz78]

Originally Posted by mtpolarbear

Also I bough from Rock Auto and had great success with them. All Moog products.

Lucky you! They wanted me to send back the Ford parts (inner tie rods) and give me a refund, but I needed to get new ones on there and didn't want to wait. So if my original Fords lasted 169,000 miles, I can deal with having the new Fords on there; Just no Zerk fittings on them.

[RedfireSVT]

i've never had any trouble with rockauto, i'm surprised they would try and pull something likt that.

[ifish424]

when you guys are saying replace the track bar, you mean the track bar ball joint correct?

[RedfireSVT]

Originally Posted by ifish424

when you guys are saying replace the track bar, you mean the track bar ball joint correct?

i believe it's the long bar that has a tie rod end.

also, i got all my ball joints and tie rods from rockauto and everything was moog parts.

[RedfireSVT]

i got everything installed and working great. the guy at the shop said there was no need to replace the u-joints so i didn't do that but all the tie rods and ball joints are now new and it rides great.

[jonesy-ex]

My guess would be that someone bought the Moog's from Rockauto...and asked for a refund, installed them and sent the Fords back....Rockauto didn't inspect on restock, then you were unlucky to receive them.