Lower Ball joints

[Peterk]

Just a quick question : Can the lower ball joints only be replaced or do I have to replace the LCA as a unit. Both were bad during the safety inspection today .. one LCA replaced a little over a year ago so it's under warranty. 96 Mark VIII by the way. Thanks in advance.

 

[Scallywag]

The ball joints alone could be done but you'd have to buy or rent a Ball Joint Press Set to get them out. One of the local auto parts stores like Autozone should have one available. Be sure to have jackstands available so you can use your jack under the LCA as needed for the sway bar link and penetrate the ball joint castle nut with some PB Blaster.

Ideally, you want to get the warranty on the one and replace the other side, especially if you already have a semi-new LCA on one side while the other is probably lingering since assembly 28 years ago.

 

[Peterk]

The ball joints alone could be done but you'd have to buy or rent a Ball Joint Press Set to get them out. One of the local auto parts stores like Autozone should have one available. Be sure to have jackstands available so you can use your jack under the LCA as needed for the sway bar link and penetrate the ball joint castle nut with some PB Blaster.

Ideally, you want to get the warranty on the one and replace the other side, especially if you already have a semi-new LCA on one side while the other is probably lingering since assembly 28 years ago.

Thanks .. I'll need to take it to the shop that did the work .. Let me ask another question if I may .. I had brought it in to begin with because my strut rod bushings were shot. They did that and told me I needed that one LCA needed replacement. Something tells me they may have screwed up with the bushings .. maybe over-tightened them. Why else would both ball joints go bad at the same time.The only reason I am going back to them is because of the warranty as I have found a new shop that just opened with an ace mechanic.

 

[Scallywag]

I can't say for certain what caused both to fail at the same time but the usual consensus is that over tightening the bushings can cause the rubber to flare and lose its effectiveness. That's on top of the fact that the aftermarket bushing sleeves are made differently than the OE design and are prone to crush.

I thought someone from here had access to or was themselves fabricating sleeves to the OE style.