How to Install Upper Ball Joints Only...Without Removing Control Arm. Ford Explorer 2003-05 

You saved me a bundle of cash. I watched your video. I investigated my control arms/ ball joints assemblies on my 2002 Ford Explorer. The control arms were in good shape. The ball joints were shot. I pressed out the old and in the new. Both sides were installed with relative ease. The tools did the work. I would not have attempted the job if I had not seen your work. Thanks for bolstering my confidence.

This is sooo much better than the one that comes up first when searching. Liked and subscribed

I was worried about it but u made me feel confident ... thank you

Thanks for posting this DIY video. Even today there's not much information about replacing just the upper ball joints. I recently went to get a front end alignment only to learn I had to Install a camber/caster kit before the alignment could be done. After installing the kit I realized I also needed both upper ball joints. This DIY video saved me alot of money

Thank you Nathan I don't have a lot of money to be throwing away and this saved my butt. Plus I like working on my own stuff and this was a great step by step helps a lot.

I’ve been doing Everything I can possibly think of for 2 days trying to get the upper ball joint out! It won’t budge!!!

Thank you. I used some of your points 8n your video, FordTechMakuloco and others to get the job done. I couldn’t knock the upper ball joint loose with a 2lb Brass hammer or even my 3lb mallet(I didn’t want to mar my aluminum knuckles). I used my angle grinder to cut the stud apart then pressed the lower ball joint loose. I was able to press the upper half out(it took some time and ingenuity) but the issue was pressing out the upper ball joint stud. I went to my driveway and secured the knuckle to my work platform, flattened to stud to fit the separator. At that time my neighbor came to look and I didn’t have the time to talk. I told him to get out the way but he had to look. I got mad after because the 2” stud ricochet off my driveway increased with speed and barely missed him. I had to walk across the street to get the stud. All worked well, no one hurt. I only have a grainy video but if you slow it down you can see the stud fly.

I did my lowers the other day, my remover kit didn't have the right sleeve, so I made one , took almost 4 hours, great video, straight to the point

Thank you for posting this. You're experience and instructions were spot on and saved my time and money.

Thank you! I like the way you teach, simple and to the point! Thanks again!

Well informative. Thank you so much for your time.

You did a great video ! Step by step ! Thank you

I failed inspection in Virginia for the upper ball joint. They were happy to fix it at $595.00. The auto part store sold it to me for $54.99, the best they had. How can I send you a cup of coffee!!!!

Great video, getting ready to replace both upper and lower on my 2004 Explorer. I am also keeping my original upper control arms.

great video!! I was looking just to replace the baal joint and not th whole control arm and couldnt find any videos! thanks for your time and wisdom

Thanks for the video, helped drastically

Thanks from Australia!

Thank you so much! I was just getting stumped and found this video. Worked like a charm! Lubed ball joint with bagbalm lol worked GREAT

Given that even after getting hold of a press kit and managing to get the BJ out, some people have found the new one doesn't seat tightly (i.e. pops out) on balance I reckon you'd want to play it safe and buy a control arm assembly (with the BJ in it). Especially if you're about due for an alignment. 😉

Great video!

Very helpful thank u for the tips also

Thank you for your video. It has been a great help to me and my friend

I must of watched 9 videos your was the only one used old school common sense. I just needed a refresher course.

BEFORE using lubrication on an bolt threads use a small wire brush and compressed air if you have it. It will make things go a lot smoother. Great video and useful advice about not pounding the knuckle before nut is off : D

Yeah also make sure when you are installing the new upper ball joint to give the bolt plenty of space to not touch the bottom of the press because mine touched against the metal and it blew the boot off the bolt and completely destroyed it. Now I gotta wait a week for the new one to come in

Wow what a antique looking jack.

I found this video a little to late but for the next job thanks for sharing very good

Must say you totally saved on my explorer

Awesome. Thank You..

Great video I’m going to do my ball joints soon now that I know how to do it 👍

Thanks a million for the video I thought I had to replace the whole whole control arm

That floor jack looks like an antique

Thanks a lot this is money savings 101 thumbs up

Thanks man,

muchas gracias , me salvaste la vida el mecánico quería cobrarme 600 dollar y estoy sin trabajo y casualmente vi tu buen video y me anime y me ahorre esa cantidad muchas gracias , excelente video con lujos de detalles.

Friend thank you so much , i have a 1996 and both upper ball are just the bolt, the rubber is gone, but the control arms looks great, Thanks for the tip, And the trick of saw it of, You have a new subscriber

Thank you, very much for showing this video, I going to try this, I have an old Lincoln Navi 2003 top and bottom ball joints messed up need to be replaced, kit cost like 200,and labor was 400... that’s super expensive, thanks again

Thanks

Thanks for posting. Altogether how long would u say it took u to rod this job?

Nice no alignment needed awesome!

Bad Ass, Thanks!

Just did the passenger side today tomorrow the driver side THANKS A MILLION

😂mr T reference is gold. Since now you gotta wear a mask everywhere i started buzz cutting my hair about 6 mo ago. Just last night i told my wife un a couple weeks she has to give me the MR.T Mohawk that flows into my beard. She laughed but ill laugh last when shes gotta look at it in a couple weeks😂😂😂I PITTY THE FOOL. BTW GREAT VID. ima headin out now to do uppers and lowers ✌✌✌🖖🖖🖖

Thank you so much .

Just awesome video. You should torque the nuts though. Thanks

thank you, i would rather replace just the joints myself also, I`ll just check control arm bushings condition, and thankx again

My '03 Exploder has the same problem and I was going to replace both control arms but both are in good condition. I guess I know what I am doing next weekend. Thanks for the video!

Dang wish I would have seen this before I order the hold thing yesterday! This is better than dropping that strut good video guy !

Thank you for the video, I was under the impression that the whole control arm needed to be replaced. I would much rather spend 30.00 than 250.00.

With all that rust, I think you should have replace the whole arm

Would it be the same for an Explorer Sport Trac?

What brand did you buy and where did you get them?

excellent video, thks a lot

Yes it is much easier to grind the old bolt on the ball joint. To take it off. Press in the new one with no problem.

What size socket did u use?

Dude nice work! Whats gonna be your next project on that car ?

What size socket did you use?

Going to ask,three years ago came across your videos. Still driving my 2002,yours still mobile, some parts harder to find here in Canada. Ps,being a Ford employee, great discount on labour, and parts.Happy weekend, spring almost here in Nova Scotia.

So I don't need to remove the tie rod or control arm or anything else? I'm just thinking about whether it will drop down far enough to get it out.

Very great video! But is there an alternator to the grinder method? Unfortunately, us city folk don’t have those just lying around, haha.

If you were to put your ball joint in the freezer for a couple hours, it’s probably slide in there a whole lot easier

Can you please post the link of the ball joints you bought? I have a 2003 ford explorer as well and need to replace either the ball joints or upper control arm. I'm cheap and want to do just the ball joints. Thanks

Awesome video! Just wonder what oil u recommend for the control arm bushings, my ride sure does squeak!

Hey buddy what size socket you use for sleeving the thread

Great video but replacing the upper control arm is also easy it’s only 2 bolts on the underside it’s best to replace the control arms with ball joints so you don’t have that crazy bouncy ride I see his upper control arms do have a lot of play when there brand new you can’t push them up or down like that and you get a better ride but seeing he is selling his ride this method works great also great vid..took me 1hr to replace both sides whole upper control arm 1hr each side and you can also access any rust issues while they are off..seeing my lower control arms look brand new but the joints are bad I’ll use this method for my lower...thumbs up.

I have a f150 2004 Lariat and I need to replace the ball joints in the top as the grease boot is busted. Ford says I have to replace the ball joint and the control arm. Is it possible that the ball joint by itself could be replaced as you did it here? Thanks for the video.

Hello I need the part number for this upper ball joint

You should always use a Torque wrench! Especially when it comes to steering an drivetrain.

Might mention the circlip on many Ford/ Mercury upper ball joints. Ruined my control arm following this video because I didn't notice the clip. Not your fault obviously. Damaged the tool too. Took all my strength. Wondered why.

if you use a hard bristle brush to clean the bottom of the bolt before you grease it, you wont need to tighten the nut back and forth several times.

Did you tell them to make sure to look for and remove snap ring if equipped?

Is the job relatively the same for a 1999? I have a Mountaineer but I know model name doesn't make a difference.

I have greased my stablelizer bar for about a month now still cant move it any ideas

Curious...you used grease to facilitate the initial insertion of the joint into the arm, and you seemed to press it in most of the way by simply tapping with a hammer. As easy as it was to tap in, how is it that the grease doesn't create a risk of a joint creeping back out on it's own?

Does having the lower arm free put stress on the front axle?

Can a bad ball joint on a 2002 ford explorer cause the wheel to break off? I know it can happen with other cars but how about the explorer?

Maybe put the grease above the nut before you tighten it up.

Do I have to cut the bottom part of the ball joint off? Or can I press it out without doing so

what about the c clip where does it go?

Whats the torque spec for those nuts ? Please and thank

Don't know if there's a big difference I have a 03 and my ball joint nut was actually 18 mmmm

Is This the same 2001?

Interesting Explorer has different setup than Explorer Sporttrac on frontend saw video on both same year

Hey what kind of clamp is that

You might as well have gotten all new control arms! They're rusted to shit!

Where does the clip go

control arm with ball joint are not expensive and easy to install

Why would you do this when the whole control arm is easier and quicker to change and only costs $20 more?

While I will agree, you're working too hard. There was no need to cut the bolt. That's just extra work you're making for yourself. However you did teach me something new. Never knew I could use a hammer. My Pastor once taught us; If you're open to receive, you can learn something from everybody.

Probably just as easy to replace the whole upper control arm

I'll

Easier to check your ball joints with tire on lifted up.

dude, that upper control arm is already HIV +ve,. Get rid of it before every car in the neighborhood ends up with a bad control arm.

For a moment I thought that control arm was rusted trough.

LOL you said in the very first section "Don't whatever you do hit that bolt with a hammer or you will end up having to cut it out" lolol You then go through the WHOLE process of taking that bolt out and once it's out, guess what you then do??? That's right, you CUT THE BOLT OUT ANYWAY!!!! What's the point in messing about by taking it out "So carefully" when you the have to cut it off ANYWAY??? lololol

That ball joint went bad 5 years ago.

Taking a break from working on my truck, watched this video... Was having brain-fog until 9:45, I finally noticed the amount of rust on his truck... Holy fuck, scrap that piece of shit, not worth working on... Not even gonna apologize. FUCK

So much rust! Is that car road worthy?

All that rusty 🤢

Use a ball joint puller. WTF are you doing beating on an $ 800.00 steering knuckle with a hammer ?!?! Just FYI for ball joint replacement on gen 3 and 4 explorers , the complete , better than OEM upper control arm assembly is available for $ 110.00 U.S. at NAPA . includes nuts , washers, bushings , ball joint with a urethane boot and grease fitting . It's a Moog part so it may be available cheaper . I replace these several times a week. the labor and unreliability of replacing just the ball joint in a sheet metal control arm is not only time consuming , it can lead to unseen metal fatigue resulting in catastrophic failure . We can't do the joint only fix at our shop because of liability issues . ,