youngfalcon

New '05 GT (39k miles) owner here with question about lower control arms and ball joints. I do not have a problem that I know of but from reading online it seems there is a weak link here with all the early failures. Depending what and where I am reading there are differences of opinion whether just the ball joints can be replaced or the whole control arm has to be changed.

My questions are: 1. Which of the above is true? 2. What is your recommendation for an aftermarket brand? If I eventually need to replace them I want something better than original.

Thanks ahead for any replies!!

JCON

I have an 05 with 53,000 miles and this past winter the front end started clunking when accelerating or braking. A friend at Firestone's said that I would need to change the ball joints sometime this year. I debated getting the GT500 control arms but heard a few guys complain about geometry since it was designed for a different weight front end. If you want t o go beyond GT500 control arms, I suggest BMR and they have a great reputation to back it up. For me, not wanting to shell out that type of cash, I went to Horsepower Direct and got a great deal on the Whiteline kit (great reviews on their products) and hit two birds with one stone, I bought the new, better, ball joints and the bump steer kit. I have not installed them yet but I know that I would be satisfied. At the same time I bought a ProThane polyurethane bushing kit and ProThane front control arm bushing kit. I plan to report back on the effects but it's just now starting to be nice out and I haven't had a chance to change anything.

S197GT07

I had a ball joint go bad last summer after running over something that flew off a truck on the highway.

Ford does not make a ball joint, however you can get them for ~$110 a set if I remember.

The GT500 arms, at the time, were $220, so I went with those. I have 0 suspension geometry issues with the GT500 arms, and they are pretty beefy.

You can go BMR, which is a company I love, but they were 2x more expensive then the OEM ones when I bought them.

ffk_pennywise

I replaced my ball joints a few years ago for ~$50-60 if I remember correctly. I used Moog brand. They are grease-able. I now have 136k miles on the odometer and just passed inspection so I'd recommend those if you don't want to spend the money on A-arms.

Ablaze

Not to hijack this thread but are ball joints and tie rods the same? I need to replace my tie rods the shop is saying but I'm not sure what to buy either MOOG Lower Ball Joints or MM's Bumpsteer Kit.

jpplaw

Ball joints and tie rod ends are two separate and distinct parts of your suspension.

Ablaze

Will a bumpsteer kit replace worn tie rods?

S197GT07

no, they go on the end of the tie rods

hootie_john

So do the GT500 control arms include the ball joints? Are all years interchangeable?

moosestang

Yes and yes, as far as I know you can use the gt500 arms on 2005-2010 gt's. The gt500 arms have slightly stiffer bushings and beefier ball joints.