OLD Ford pickups

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   My 99 F250 super duty is killing me this week.  Just completed ball joints, on 4WD Front Axle, including inner axle seals to differential, outer half shaft seals to knuckles, and some misc. pieces.  Just serviced it last week, changed the muffler for the bad OE unit then went for a state inspect where the ball joints failed.
The shop did NOT measure just stated were too sloppy which by State regs is NOT acceptable, has to show measurement against a Spec dimension by manufacturer limits, but I digress as could use ball joints as needed to fix axle lube leak from right tube. 

Requires a Special Seal Driver for the outer drive shaft to knuckle seals.  So less the tool cost which I can recover some by selling, I have just at $1000 in parts alone, on a 23 year old, use on the farm wagon.  Labor to do the ball joints was quoted at eight Hours.  Seals are additional time on 1/2 shafts and inner axle seals requires removal of the Differential Carrier as install from the Inside.

Started on this yesterday at 11am, quit at 3:30 to make dinner, resumed this morning at 7:30 and finished at 10am.  WHAT A MESS!!!!

	This site is not affiliated with AGCO Inc., Duluth GA., Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, WI., or any surviving or related corporate entity. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. All information presented herein should be considered the result of an un-moderated public forum with no responsibility for its accuracy or usability assumed by the users and sponsors of this site or any corporate entity.
	The Forum	Parts and Services	Unofficial Allis Store	Tractor Shows	Serial Numbers	History

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 33852	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: OLD Ford pickups Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 2:46pm
	My 99 F250 super duty is killing me this week. Just completed ball joints, on 4WD Front Axle, including inner axle seals to differential, outer half shaft seals to knuckles, and some misc. pieces. Just serviced it last week, changed the muffler for the bad OE unit then went for a state inspect where the ball joints failed. The shop did NOT measure just stated were too sloppy which by State regs is NOT acceptable, has to show measurement against a Spec dimension by manufacturer limits, but I digress as could use ball joints as needed to fix axle lube leak from right tube. Requires a Special Seal Driver for the outer drive shaft to knuckle seals. So less the tool cost which I can recover some by selling, I have just at $1000 in parts alone, on a 23 year old, use on the farm wagon. Labor to do the ball joints was quoted at eight Hours. Seals are additional time on 1/2 shafts and inner axle seals requires removal of the Differential Carrier as install from the Inside. Started on this yesterday at 11am, quit at 3:30 to make dinner, resumed this morning at 7:30 and finished at 10am. WHAT A MESS!!!!

Sponsored Links

Codger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 23 Dec 2020 Location: Utopia Points: 2458	Post Options Post Reply Quote Codger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 3:43pm
	Never really liked the design as very fragile on even light impact and the steering geometry liked to snap the pitman shaft off at the steering box. Oversized tires exacerbated the scenario.

DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 33852	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 4:01pm
	Nothing Fragile under my pickup, Solid Axle Dana 50 not IFS, first of 2000 Body Style but titles as 1999 on Leaf Spring suspension. 340,000miles, 7.3 powerstroke on now third set ball joints. Edited by DMiller - 03 Dec 2022 at 4:11pm

Codger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 23 Dec 2020 Location: Utopia Points: 2458	Post Options Post Reply Quote Codger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 4:09pm
	Yup, those were rugged beasts and worked well except for the grease seals you mention. Think I replaced four steering gears in F-250, and F-350 myself and I remember one being the solid axle type.

DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 33852	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 4:16pm
	Rebuilt a Dana 50 for a guy with a Dodge early 90s, similar set up, except not sealed bearing wheel ends as these. Small seal half shaft to knuckle more a dust boot, same for shaft to axle tube yet did have a seal inside as these do have to remove ring carrier to change. Most I ever spent on one of those was $150 for ALL the seals including Wheel Bearings. This was right at a grand.

Codger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 23 Dec 2020 Location: Utopia Points: 2458	Post Options Post Reply Quote Codger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 4:25pm
	My shop did a lot of body work for the local Ford dealership and had access to their tooling when needed. I also have a frame/alignment rack so did a lot of their front end work and seen a lot of Ford pickup front ends apart. Hard on ball joints and center links especially if not kept greased. Edited by Codger - 03 Dec 2022 at 4:26pm

DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 33852	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 6:48pm
	Later Ford Ball Joints are factory lubed, NO zerk threaded hole, tie rod ends are lube fitting equipped, hang tough as do the spring bushings. Then they went in 03 or 04 back to coil fronts, sad state with radius arms and those bushings.