Jeffk

I just got 2 new Moog balljoints from Rockauto. I've been fighting a high speed shake in the steering wheel along with a thumping/clunking from the front end over bumps. I've had the tires road-force balanced and installed an UCA designed for lowered cars (I have FRPP K-springs installed) with no change in the steering wheel shake.

The last guy that balanced the wheels pointed out some play in the drivers side ball joint so I figured that I would just do both while I'm there.

If any of you have done this and have some pointers please share.

I'm going to pick up a balljoint press from Autozone (Loan-a-tool) and try to tackle it tomorrow night.

Thanks in advance!

ffk_pennywise

Beer and a helper. I put moogs in about 2 years ago. Seriously sucked. There was a hammer involved and a large breaker bar as well. Just one of those jobs that requires some muscle power, no tricks that I can remember.

Jeffk

YAH! Now I'm really looking forward to it...

I really like that hood!

SpartaPerformance

For the pain in the *** job it is, I'd rather spend the money and a set of GT-500 lower control arms that come with beefier ball joint and install is a breeze.

Old Mustanger

Usually, ball joints clunk at low speeds when turning sharp.

A wobble at speed sounds more like a bad outer tie rod.

Did you check out the Lower Control Arm bushings? When those things give out they allow a lot of strange changes to your suspension geometry, plus odd clunks.

CPTCO

Borrow a ball joint fork from somebody if you don't have one. Then once you get the nut off, hammer that in between. That'll pop things apart lots easier.

Jeffk

I will check out the LCA bushings when I get it up in the air tomorrow night. I thought the rear bushings on these S197's are some sort of hydro bushings though.

All4One

I did mine a couple months ago to try to get rid of those thumps and clunks. It didn't work for that but it did get rid of the squeaks I had when driving and turning at slow speeds in parking lots.
I used this helper from american muscle. Not moog, but same idea.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/steeda...4-install.html
Let us know if that gets rid of the thunk, since my swap didn't.

ShinobiOfLegends

i cheat and take the whole lower control arm and use a bench press to press the old ball joint out and the new one in. its easier and faster. ive done it enough that i can do each side in 40 min flat from start to finish. and i dont have to swear and get drunk to do it.

Jeffk

I wish that was an option for me. I don't have a bench press. I might stop off a National Tool on the way home and see how much they get for one though.