So how difficult were they to replace? Did you have to remove the Steering rack mounting bolts to allow you the room to pull the control arm bolts out?

 

Yea, that was the biggest PITA. Ford decided instead of putting the bolt head on the bottom, where its super easy to get too, they put it on the top. So you have to thread your ratchet through the K member and all this other junk to get at the bolt. You have like 25 degrees of movement while getting the bolt out.

It sucked

Other than that the install is pretty easy. Took me an hour with a buddy on a lift for the set.

 

+1 on this. I had to totally remove the rack & pinion steering unit to access the LCA bolts, that was the biggest PITA on the job. But I used this as an excuse to upgrade the rack mounting rubber bushings to Urethane.

 

Thanks for the install tips. Nothing will be as frustrating as the longtube headers were. So if a bolt is hard to reach, no biggie. LOL

 

Same way I looked at it. They were a pain, but only 2 of them, not 8

 

Mine were warm buttery toast at 44k so 30k is reasonable with worse driving conditions.

 

I just checked mine and couldn't get any movement out of the tire when pulling and pushing from the top and bottom. Is there another way to check your ball joints?

 

I push and pull from the sides too

None other that I know of.

 

Ahhh, good to know. Looks like i'll get to try out some of my new ratcheting low profile tools!

I've heard you can put those bolts back in from the bottom like you described would be easier for just that reason. is that true?

 

I just googled it and you are supposed to push up and pull down on the lower control arm, with the weight off the tire obviously. I'll try that next.