Ball Joint Question- Input Please

[panthermike]

I had my front end inspected today. My mechanic said that the tie rods were dry and needed to be greased(showed me) and said the driver side lower ball joint is bad.

The dealer says you have to buy the ball joint with lower control arm assembly for 186.00. Parts houses tell me I can buy just the ball joint. Can I? The ball joint price they gave me was 70.00.

Also, I took it in because the wheel doesn't "return to center" after turns. Could a ball joint cause these issues? He said if the ball joint doesn't fix the issue then I'm looking at replacing the rack and pinion assembly, ouch!

 

[unity]

Yes the ball joint can cause the return to center issue. Or lack of.

Get the ENTIRE lower control arm from Advance Auto or RockAuto (online retailer) for about $70 and it comes with a new ball oint already in. Get TRW or MOOG, they are the same so whichever is cheaper. By the time you order just the ball joint and press it in you will be back at the $186 or more - trust me!

 

[kustomizingkid]

Problem with the front end is everything seems to wear together, so replacing it piece by piece can turn into a PITA... but if you are low on $$$'s you can just replace the ball joint alone.

BJ Replacement

 

[panthermike]

The only brands on Rockauto for a reasonable price is Mevotech and Dorman? Any good?

The Moog part is 130.00 at Rockauto and 166.00 on Advance Auto.

Ball joint on Rockauto was much cheaper. Hmm, gonna have to think about this.

BTW, the Moog ball joint is only 31.00.

 

[Aquabrit]

This for the lower control arms, Mike? If so, try again on Rockauto but search for 96 T-Bird LX (4.6) lower control arms. When I did that, the price was alot cheaper.

Edit: just checked. Yup, all good!

96 T-Bird LX (4.6) complete Moog lower control arms: $60.79 each. Get those!!! Left and right part numbers: K80053 (LH lower) and K80055 (RH lower)

 

[Green Machine]

when ordering those other lower control arms, aren't they missing the ball for the height sensor to go on and will have to be welded on?

 

[Roadboss]

The ball stud is on the Upper Control Arm.

 

[panthermike]

This for the lower control arms, Mike? If so, try again on Rockauto but search for 96 T-Bird LX (4.6) lower control arms. When I did that, the price was alot cheaper.

Edit: just checked. Yup, all good!

96 T-Bird LX (4.6) complete Moog lower control arms: $60.79 each. Get those!!! Left and right part numbers: K80053 (LH lower) and K80055 (RH lower)

So this will work with no modification at all? If so, that's really nice.

How come they are different part numbers?

 

[unity]

Oops! Good catch Blue. Totally forget you need to order T-Bird ones! Yes, they work fine. Heck, I bet there are more Marks on the road with so called "T-Bird" lowers than there are "Mark VIII" lowers.

Price difference is due to application. Lincoln folk have more money?

 

[panthermike]

O.K. sounds like I'll be ordering the T-Bird part and saving 70.00. Sounds good!

Thanks everyone.

 

[panthermike]

Just ordered it, part # K80053.

Total cost w/ shipping and Rockauto discount is 65.78.

Not too bad considering the dealer wanted 186.00 plus tax.

 

[Aquabrit]

Yup, they appear to be the exact same arm. What you will find is that it has TRW stamped on it. (Moog and TRW are somehow tied up together) That's the arms I have and they fit just the same. No idea why companies play with the prices. Gotta be the 'Lincoln tax' - Lol.