Ball Joint question

[lanestang]

I have a 2002 Lincoln ls sport "Production date 11/01" and I am going to replace the ball joints. Looking on Ebay it appears that there is two different size 14mm and 16mm. My question where is this measurement taken from, or is there a definite size mine would have? I just don't want to order them and have to deal with the wrong parts.

One other question is does anyone know the front sway bar diameter?

Thanks in advance Lane

 

[LS4me]

I've mentioned this before, but it was just my conjecture. Now I have an expert's opinion. I talked to the guys at a local suspension shop about installing new ball joints in the aluminum "A" arms. They said they wouldn't do it as it is too tricky an operation. He said the risk of breaking the "A" arm was too great. He said just a fraction of an inch off dead center when pressing the old joint out or the new one in could be catastrophic. It wasn't worth the risk for them to do it. For me a whole new assembly is cheap insurance.

YMMV.

 

[gcwimmer]

The sway bar for a V6 and V8 are different so more information is needed.

 

[lanestang]

I am sorry that they told you that but it is done thousands of times daily around the world. Ford taurus, Ford pickups Ford excursions and many more all have ball joints pressed in to aluminum, very common. I think you may want to look for a new suspension shop......

I've mentioned this before, but it was just my conjecture. Now I have an expert's opinion. I talked to the guys at a local suspension shop about installing new ball joints in the aluminum "A" arms. They said they wouldn't do it as it is too tricky an operation. He said the risk of breaking the "A" arm was too great. He said just a fraction of an inch off dead center when pressing the old joint out or the new one in could be catastrophic. It wasn't worth the risk for them to do it. For me a whole new assembly is cheap insurance.

YMMV.

 

[lanestang]

V8

 

[gcwimmer]

1 3/16"

 

[LeaSr77]

I am sorry that they told you that but it is done thousands of times daily around the world. Ford taurus, Ford pickups Ford excursions and many more all have ball joints pressed in to aluminum, very common. I think you may want to look for a new suspension shop......

+1 on that

 

[LS4me]

I am sorry that they told you that but it is done thousands of times daily around the world. Ford taurus, Ford pickups Ford excursions and many more all have ball joints pressed in to aluminum, very common. I think you may want to look for a new suspension shop......

Done by factory trained techs or independent shops? Will a dealer's service department change the ball joint only? That's my test; not what an independent shop would do.

To each their own. Like I said, I'll take the cheap insurance.

 

[LeaSr77]

Done by factory trained techs or independent shops? Will a dealer's service department change the ball joint only? That's my test; not what an independent shop would do.

To each their own. Like I said, I'll take the cheap insurance.

More likely they won't for the simple fact Ford don't sell the ball joints by themselves. They will probably be more against it and will suggest that you buy the knuckles. My thing is there are a lot of things that can be done by shops that the dealerships won't do because it's not something that they normally do on a ordinary basis. Plus they only replace the parts with parts that come from Ford instead of another source.

 

[lanestang]

Exactly!

More likely they won't for the simple fact Ford don't sell the ball joints by themselves. They will probably be more against it and will suggest you that you buy the knuckles. My thing is there are a lot of things that can be done by shops that the dealerships won't do because it's not something that they normally do a ordinary basis. Plus they only replace the parts with parts that come from Ford instead of another source.

 

[Right on the Mark]

You measure the dia of the threaded lower balljoint stud that sticks str8 down ,right on the inside of the tire. Once you look it will be simple to find. Also 14mm(.551) is close to 9/16 (.562)and 16mm(.629) is close to 5/8.(.625) Also balljoints are pressed into 1000's of arms a day i bet ,with no problems.