PLEASE HELP! I have a 2001 F150 4wd, 5.4L. I am in the middle of replacing my upper & lower ball joints and I've ran into a problem. I cannot get the lower ball joint out! I've tried using the ball joint separator that I got from Auto Zone. But the C-clamp isn't wide enough to use per their instructions. I can't get both "pressing adapters" in there. I've called all the other parts stores but no luck. Is there another way to get this ball joint out? Or am I not using the tool right? Thanks.

 

To do mine I just beat the old one out with a hammer. Did you take the retaining ring off?

 

Thanks. I'll give that another go. I feel like I'm beating the living poop out of it. Yeah, I took the snap ring off.

 

Got it finally using the BFH!!!! Tomorrow I'll finish her up. It's time for some cold beverages.

 

Sorry, I should have clarified that you would need a BFH in my first post.

 

I had the same deal! Couldn't get the old joint out let alone the new one in! Autozone didn't have a press but Oreilley's did. You can press the old one out then the new one in. This is the only way to get the new one in for sure. Good luck! Get the ball joint press! It really works good.

 

Finally "got 'er done". I had to jerry rig the press putting it back on. The C-clamp wasn't wide enough. What I ended up doing was putting a piece of thick metal (flat part of pry bar) on the top in place of the upper "pressing adapter". This did the trick. Now I just need to get an alignment done tomorrow and I'll pass inspection. Thanks to everyone on this site. I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for that how to. Saved me some major $$$$.

 

Can I ask where you are that bad ball joints will cause you to not pass inspection? One GREAT thing about living in IOWA....NO INSPECTIONS of any sort.

 

Missouri, for one place.

Had to replace one of my lower BJs this fall to pass.

Steve

 

Missouri here also.

 

I haven't lived in Missouri for about 19 years and I still remember the "safety" inspections they did back then. I remember my old hot rod mustang getting failed for old dry brake lines. Then taking it to a friends garage and getting it passed. Hmmm the good ol' days when a "favor" was done for only a 6 pack. Needless to say, the brake lines failed about a month later.

 

I'd have tried a different shop. Sounds to me like the guy was trying to generate new bussness. I'll bet they find something wrong with 90% of the cars that come in there.

 

here in ontario ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearing, tires, windshield, exhaust, lights (brake/tail/head/reverse/signal/license), seat belts, brakes, park brake, horn, and i'm sure i'm forgetting stuff.. all need to pass safety checks here. can add up to a lot if your buying an older car to save money. but as far as i know it only has to pass when vehicle changes ownership. then you can let it get as bad as you want of course the police can still pull it off the road if they notice something. fortunately i like to keep my stuff in good shape so its not to big a deal. just hard when it all has to be done at once. and then after that you have to pass emissions tests

 

State Inspections are a mixed blessing. FL abandoned their network of official inspection stations in the early 80's. Part of their procedure was a brake, 4 wheel, skid test. Inspection officers would direct drivers to accelerate, in the garage, then hit the brakes while on 4 steel grids. Each grid was connected to a hydraulic system that showed how well each wheel's brake worked.

While getting my old Econoline Camper's annual inspection done I did not go fast enough or stop quick enough. The inspector told me to back up & hit it again-harder. I tweaked it & saw the 4 test's indicators rise nicely, but felt the brake pedal go soft! Even more alarming, just ahead, the previous car was still sitting there being processed & an inspector was standing behind it!

As the inspector had me switch on lights, wipers, honk horn, etc. I'd become aware that my brakes had just suffered failure! The pedal no longer had any resistance & could be pushed easily to the floor. I knew there & then that a rusty brake line had failed. Each push on the pedal was now dumping brake fluid on the inspection garage floor! However I had passed the test! The inspector reached in, chopped away the old sticker, slammed on a new one & took my cash. As I drove away I wondered if they'd link the puddle of brake fluid to me & pursue it. Limped home using the emergency brake & replaced the rusted brake line.

A previous time the same inspection station failed me b/c the Econoline's tail pipe didn't extend far enough out from under the van for them. Oddly enough the entire exhaust system was brand new, installed to pass inspection, still had the stickers on it & I had the receipts in hand. No way, FL demanded that tail pipe be a couple of inches longer. The parts store I'd gotten the exhaust from was just a couple of miles away. FL gave me 10 days to get it fixed & try again. I visited the parts store, told them my about my inspection problem, they came out with short length of swaged exhaust pipe & hammer AND slammed a ridiculous extension onto the short tailpipe. I returned to the inspection garage about 10 minutes later & passed, even though the extension stuck out nearly a foot. Ten minutes later I was home, took a hammer & knocked the extension back off.

In NY I once forgot to get an annual inspection & the State Police stopped me & wrote me a ticket. I'd restored this English roadster & was proud to maintain it in excellent condition. Inspection is done in independant garages licensed by NY. I went to a garage just a few miles from the State Police barracks & where I'd been ticketed. The inspector said he could do an inspection in a few minutes, if I could wait while he finished what he was doing. A short time later he came out, looked left & looked right, then quickly chopped away the old inspection sticker, slammed on a new one & asked for his fee. NY requires new vehicles, freshly dealer prepared for delivery, to be inspected. Meanwhile an Uncle has always driven $100-$500 beaters into the ground, lived in the same community & never had any trouble getting anything inspected by friendly locals.

 

The issue is with a ball joint that won't press out. Currently have that issue now on my 05 e150.