Lincoln LS BALL JOINT problems. HELP!

jdmans101

jdmans101

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so here my beautiful LS is starting to make a loud cracking noise when I turn or hit the gas, to a point where others drivers with their windows down look at me as my car is making a messed up noise ( well at least I still have a sexier car than you do! :p ) So I take it to the shop and see whats going on, not to mention my LS has 183,000 miles on her and still runs like new. They tell me my ball joints are bad and need replacing, I expected something like that and I wait for the cost to fix. I get a KILLER 1,000 ESTIMATE! As im thinking in my head, why the hell are ball joints for this car so much! the guy tells me that I have to replace the entire control arm and thats why its so expensive and no place sells just the ball joints for the LS. I'm thinking in my head why?? So I go online and do some research and come across a new set of ball joints (just ball joints) and a new set of control arms for a fraction of the cost Ford wants.
What do you guys think? Is this legit? The seller is on ebay and has a great feedback score and everything so why not try and save a couple hundred bucks.

<--JUST THE BALL JOINTS-->
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LINC...rQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2549wt_939

<--ALL NEW CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS-->
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...rQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_1385wt_939

Should I even waste my time with this or take a chance and save some cash?
 
Ford had 14mm and 16mm ball joints that got mixed around some years. To make sure, you need to measure the old ones before you order new ones. The knuckle are around $300/ea rebuilt which could make a $1000 bill not unheard of to replace them. The quote should have also included an alignment as well which could be in the $100 range.

Other then that, it's just a matter of pressing the old ones out without screwing up the knuckle and pressing new ones in without screwing up the knuckle or Ball Joint. It can be done just requires a little special know-how and a good hydraulic press.

If you don't have access to a good hydraulic press that might make this a little more difficult. Most engine machine shops or suspension shops should be able to press them out for you though. Your typical Ford/Lincoln dealer is mostly just a glorified parts slinger. Very few actually "work" on things. If the computer/diagnosis says it's bad, they unbolt it and bolt a new one in.
 
Yeah I never really listen to Ford so much but it was just a last minute thing. So I took a trip to a few local auto part stores and they told me the same thing and they only sell just the control arm with the lower ball joint, I never did any suspension work on the car so I don't know much about it and was wondering how much the upper ball joints would be and they told me that the LS v8 has the jag suspension and there is no upper ball joint? They couldn't identify if I had the 14mm or 16mm so I guess I will have to look at it myself and just buy the ball joints from ebay.
 
Get the Moog joint (MOOG Part # K500084) from Rock Auto. It's ~$45. They also show a 2001 as having a 14mm joint. I got mine from them and they are one stout piece. IIRC, I paid ~$150 for installation. Any reputable shop should be able to replace the joint. They just have to be very careful; and you should advise them before having them do the work; with the aluminum arms. Aluminum isn't forgiving like steel is.

That ebay picture of the control arm looks like stamped steel, not the aluminum arm the LS uses.
 
what year is your Lincoln? I'm just trying to figure out what my best option is so far... because I don't know but I'm not paying a grand for ball joints from ford lmao! Thanks for the feedback!
 
From what I've read on here I think the 2002-2004 was were ford started going from 14mm to 16mm ball joints. Mine is a 2006 so more then likely it's the 16mm ones.

LS4me said:
Any reputable shop should be able to replace the joint. They just have to be very careful; and you should advise them before having them do the work; with the aluminum arms. Aluminum isn't forgiving like steel is.
Click to expand...

And what he said! You really need to find someone who knows what they are doing. If you don't jig the knuckle up right in the press, chances are you will crack or break the aluminum. It's cast which means it tends to be more brittle then malleable.
 
jdmans101 said:
what year is your Lincoln? I'm just trying to figure out what my best option is so far... because I don't know but I'm not paying a grand for ball joints from ford lmao! Thanks for the feedback!
Click to expand...

Mine? It's a 2000.
 
thanks guys, yeah I'll just buy the part and have a shop do it. There's a place I know about and they kinda do everything old school and like to actually fix things and not replace the entire part, been in business for 50+ years so I'm sure they know what there doing, my grandpa refuses to take his car anywhere else! The MOOG joint looks pretty good, I'm sure my size is 14mm since mfg date was in 2001 but I will double check, I don't know if it being the sport model makes a difference.
 
The size also depends on which suspension you have. The Sport suspension package (ie, if you have 17" wheels, you probably have sport suspension) uses the 16mm ball joints.
 
oddball said:
The size also depends on which suspension you have. The Sport suspension package (ie, if you have 17" wheels, you probably have sport suspension) uses the 16mm ball joints.
Click to expand...

I thought it was a model year change thing. Guess not I know I know.
 
oddball said:
The size also depends on which suspension you have. The Sport suspension package (ie, if you have 17" wheels, you probably have sport suspension) uses the 16mm ball joints.
Click to expand...

Don't think so. The lower control arms aren't part of the sport package. It will be a MY thing.
 
Yeah I'm not so sure myself, I for sure have the sports package on the car so maybe I have the 16mm ones. Think it originally had 17inch rims but I have 19's now. I have to look myself or wait till I take it up to the shop I know about. Everywhere that I have looked though said that the 2002 models had the 14mm, but I did read that some of the earlier sports packages had the 16mm but not all of them.. This is very confusing. Think all the suspension parts should just be the same! I'll let you guys know when it goes to the shop Monday... greased up the lower ball joints though and the noise is gone at least for now! But I don't like diving it knowing something is wrong, nothing but the best for my car!
 
jdmans101 said:
Yeah I'm not so sure myself, I for sure have the sports package on the car so maybe I have the 16mm ones. Think it originally had 17inch rims but I have 19's now. I have to look myself or wait till I take it up to the shop I know about. Everywhere that I have looked though said that the 2002 models had the 14mm, but I did read that some of the earlier sports packages had the 16mm but not all of them.. This is very confusing. Think all the suspension parts should just be the same! I'll let you guys know when it goes to the shop Monday... greased up the lower ball joints though and the noise is gone at least for now! But I don't like diving it knowing something is wrong, nothing but the best for my car!
Click to expand...

You can't go wrong if you measure. :)
 
i went to a shop as well and they ssaid i needed mine replaced as well...quoted me for 1500 bucks! i still need to do it, i was just going to buy the whole CA for it and install it myself...
 
holly crap!!! 1500! for something so simple as a ball joint this is just stupid. My local parts store charges way to much for the control arms and everything. You can find the parts online for half the cost. Rockauto.com seems to have really good prices for the LS. Getting mine fixed next week though!
 
well thats what i said. i took that piece of paper and left that place. i figured that i already know how to do most of the work to this car, i can teach myself how to do these as well...even if i mess up or break something my cost will still be way below 1500 bucks.
 
unbolt spindle from car.
measure the ball joint.
buy correct size.
press old ball joint out. (i did this with a very large c clamp gizmo rented from advance auto. similar to this.)
press new ball joint in.
bolt spindle to car.
done.

please please please PLEASE buy MOOG. moogity moogity moog. i've done the ball joints on the LS 3 times because not moog parts were put on it.
 
chris2523 said:
unbolt spindle from car.
measure the ball joint.
buy correct size.
press old ball joint out. (i did this with a very large c clamp gizmo rented from advance auto. similar to this.)
press new ball joint in.
bolt spindle to car.
done.

please please please PLEASE buy MOOG. moogity moogity moog. i've done the ball joints on the LS 3 times because not moog parts were put on it.
Click to expand...

How did you do this on the LS? I was unable to get any ball joint press to fit on the A arm of the LS because of the way it comes back up over the ball joint. I ended up taking it to a shop to have it pressed out and even he said he had problems with it.
 
TDUB said:
How did you do this on the LS? I was unable to get any ball joint press to fit on the A arm of the LS because of the way it comes back up over the ball joint. I ended up taking it to a shop to have it pressed out and even he said he had problems with it.
Click to expand...

yeah i remember it being a chore to get everything to fit. it wasnt fun, but it is possible.
 
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