How to Replace Ball Joints on an 89 F150
- 1). Place the F-150 in park and engage the parking brake by pressing in the parking brake pedal all the way to the floor. Use a floor jack to jack the front of the truck up and place jack stands underneath the I-beam. Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands so that they are fully supporting the weight of the vehicle.
- 2). Remove the front wheel from the vehicle by unscrewing the lug nuts with an X-wrench. After the lug nuts are removed pull the tire towards you until it comes off the vehicle. Set it aside until the ball joints are replaced.
- 3). Completely remove the front spindle by first removing the brake assembly and the rotor. Take out the bearing cone and seal along with the brake dust shield. Remove the tie rod ends from the spindle, and cotter pins from the ball joints in order to take the spindle off of the truck.
- 4). Place the install cup and adapter from the ball joint press over the bottom of the upper ball joint and the receiver over the top of the ball joint after removing the snap ring. Place each end of the "C" shaped ball joint press over the install cup and receiver, making sure the end with the threaded hole is over the receiver. Screw the force screw into the press, putting pressure on the receiver, until the upper ball joint comes out.
- 5). Place the install cup and adapter over the bottom of the lower ball joint and the receiver over the top of the lower ball joint after removing the snap ring. Place each end of the ball joint press over the install cup and receiver, making sure the end with the threaded hole in it is over the receiver. Screw the force screw into the press, putting it through the opening from the missing upper ball joint, putting enough pressure on the receiver to remove the lower ball joint.
- 6). Put a smaller install cup, and adapter, over the bottom of the new lower ball joint and the receiver over the top of the hole for the new lower ball joint. Place the ends of the ball joint press over the install cup, and receiver, with the force screw over the receiver. Turn the force screw in order for it to put pressure on the install cup to press the new lower ball joint into place.
- 7). Place a small install cup, and adapter, over the bottom of the new upper ball joint and the receiver over the top of the hole. Place the ball joint press over the install cup, and receiver, with the threaded hole over the receiver. Twist the force screw so it puts pressure on the install cup in order to press the new ball joint into place.
- 8). Re-install the snap ring on the ball joints and re-install the spindle. Place the wheel back in place and tighten all the lug nuts. Use a jack to lift the front end of the vehicle off of the jack stands and then lower the vehicle once the jack stands are out of the way.
