ball joint woes...

[2000sport]

So after hearing a clunk that I thought was associated with the sway bar bushings ended up being the ball joint I just replaced.

The shop that installed the ball joint failed to tighten the nut on the stud enough and it backed out, causing the ball joint stud to round off the hole on the lower control arm (steel always beats aluminum) and basically I was a few miles from snapping the ball joint stud...

It was scary getting on the highway with the car violently hooking left or right (completely randomly) I basically had no control over the driver's side wheel.

so... the damage is...

I need a new ball joint (the threads on the stud are toast)
and a new lower control arm

My guess is the shop either reused the OEM locknut (big no-no since nylon locknuts are no good after one use) or they :q:q:q:qed something up and had to unbolt the ball joint from the lower control arm and then reused the new locknut again (still a big no-no since it was already threaded on there)

So its going to the shop tomorrow morning, and since it's been less than 2 months since the install, Im hoping they back up their work and eat the cost of a new ball joint and lower arm... I'd even pay for the new ball joint and have them do the pass side and the sway bar bushings if they cover the labor and parts on the lower arm...

ugh

FML

 

[2k2ls]

Did you supply the ball joint or did they? If you supplied it they normally wont cover the part just the labor. Either way that sucks. Hope it turns out ok

 

[2000sport]

I supplied the joint, but since the joint isn't damaged (beyond the threading) im hoping they cover at least the control arm damage that resulted from theyre negligence.

If they dont cover it, i will bring my attorney into this...

since this put both me and my pregnant fiance at risk.

 

[2000sport]

car got towed to the shop about an hour ago... Looks like they need to (at minimum) order a new locknut from Ford, as they are supposedly FLM specific.

They claim if it needs a new control arm they'll eat the cost on parts and labor...

they even covered the tow

Even the tow truck driver wasn't surprised to find out the damage was ball joint related...

My next question now is this... Will a gen2 spindle bolt up to a first gen chassis?

If I can utilize the bigger ball joints (that seem to fail less often)....

 

[Mechanicboy]

car got towed to the shop about an hour ago... Looks like they need to (at minimum) order a new locknut from Ford, as they are supposedly FLM specific.

They claim if it needs a new control arm they'll eat the cost on parts and labor...

they even covered the tow

Even the tow truck driver wasn't surprised to find out the damage was ball joint related...

My next question now is this... Will a gen2 spindle bolt up to a first gen chassis?

If I can utilize the bigger ball joints (that seem to fail less often)....

If they are going to cover everything then I wouldn't push it.
If you are going to change one side over(assuming it will even work) you might as well pay them to change the other side.

 

[2000sport]

Im not spending 900+ per side for the spindles... I'm just saying... if someone were to pull the spindles out of a part-out deal on a gen2, would they even bolt up?

just got a call from them, apparently there are 2 different size locknuts (assuming one for the 14mm joint and one for the 16mm joint, even though they have the same DIA stud) but Ford doesn't list which p/n goes with which year.

so the shop ordered 2 of each and started shopping around for the control arm in case it does have to be replaced. should know more tomorrow.

 

[Mechanicboy]

I like a shop that keeps me informed. Sounds like things are going good.

 

[2000sport]

They seem to have their sh*t straight so I'm hoping this all goes to plan...

On a side note, anyone have an update to the rumor of Moog offering a pressable joint for us any time soon?

 

[2000sport]

well... shop called today, seems they forgot a washer between the locknut and the control arm, so the arm isnt destroyed, and the ball joint is now tight.

picking it up in 30

 

[2000sport]

talked to the shop owner, he said if it loosens up again they will replace the lower control arm and ball joint for free... so im in a good mood

and so far so good... still got some noise coming from the passenger side ball joint and the sway bar bushings. so I will have those done next week.