Ball Joints - How much???

[maskmarkman]

I took my ole Lincoln Gen 2 Mark VIII to the shop for a unrelated issue then the guys down at the local shop is telling that my ball joints are about to fall out of the car? Its a second car now but I just wanted to know if anyone has been down this road and what should have to pay to have then replaced. Thanks...

 

[Frat-man-du]

$62ea for (one) OEM TRW upper control arm (part only) Ebay has a pair for $119 - you can't replace just the ball joints on the Mark you have to replace the whole arm -either upper or lower. These are common weak points on the Mark. Not a bad job on the upper control arms -figure 4 hours for a first time do it yourself-er. Driver side is the harder, as the master cyl needs to be carefully removed out of the way to get to one of the nuts. I have not done lowers yet so cant comment, but from previous posts not a horrible task by any means.

I called a local Ford Dealer ( my Lincoln dealer sold out to Nissan) they wanted $550 + shop supplies and tax.

Oh and dont let this go it is dangerious - they can and will fall off and at speed can lead to trouble!!!!! Rich had this happen to his daughter.

 

[mespock]

Go to www.rockauto.com you can get them for $40+ for Lowers $50+ uppers.

But get the ones for the 96 T-bird. $40 diff for the same part.

If knock the nipple off the upper and have it welded on.

 

[Calabrio]

Yeah- the upper one has a small mount for the ride height sensor. If you don't weld, you need to buy this part for the Mark VIII.

The lower is interchangable with the Thunderbird.

 

[chicken]

you can't replace just the ball joints on the Mark you have to replace the whole arm -either upper or lower.

yes the uppers are 1 piece, but just the lower joints are avil through ford, i did mine need a balljoint press and i wouldent rec for a first timer either. the lower joints look like their for a truck

 

[mespock]

yes the uppers are 1 piece, but just the lower joints are avil through ford, i did mine need a balljoint press and i wouldent rec for a first timer either. the lower joints look like their for a truck

The lower didn't take me long at all. Just needed to get the 2 large nuts loose with an impac driver and it was a five min job. 200+K on the 93... those nuts were tight.

You don't need a press just remove the control arm.

 

[chicken]

The lower didn't take me long at all. Just needed to get the 2 large nuts loose with an impac driver and it was a five min job. 200+K on the 93... those nuts were tight.

You don't need a press just remove the control arm.

it sounds like you replaced the whole arm, rich, i just replaced the ball joint it self and left the lower arm in the veh, and it would be a ball joint/ u joint press (its like a big c-clamp that you put an impact gun on)