 DIY Ball Joint Install
I learned a trick to installing ball joints on excursions and superduty equiped with four wheel drive. when you get to the step of removing the axles to remove the ball joints you have a seal that holds vacuum to engauge the hubs. if you take a hammer and something wood or plastic and smack the steal rim on the seal all the way around this will loosen up the rubber to steel connection. now take a crowbar or prybar and get on the back side of the u-joint and push the axle out with the seal.
I learned this after screwing up one side and trust me once i screwed up the one side i had to figure out how to get the new seal installed on the axle and that was more diffucult than gettingthe axle out with the seal on the way i described.
Tools needed: ball joint press from parts store loan program (be sure to have the Ford kit in the case) 1 1/8" socket for ball joint, 21mm socket, 10 mm wrench, ball joint seperator, Snapring pliers and the socket to fit the press you barrowed from the parts store. it also helps to have a strong buddy to help hold the press when you are pressing the ball joint out and putting back together. total time should take about one whole day if you are slow.
Jack up front end an put on jack stands, remove tire, loosen up the bleader valve on the calipers and open the brake pads so the calipers will come off, and tighten the valve, take 21mm socket and remove caliper and place on leafspring. remove hub (the most easy task in the whole project) take the snapring pliers and remove the ring and the washers behind the ring. remove the rotor(disk break) if you havent done so already. Use the 21mm socket and remove the 4 bolts that hold the wheel hub assembly. Now do what i said earlier about removing the axle. now that you have the axle out seperate the ball joint. and press out and now you can install the new ball joints. hope this helps to the DIYers out there.
2000 Excursion Limited
4x4 V10
4.30 axle ratio | 
Linear Mode
