2002 Grand Marq ball joints--usually break??

[38sho]

Moog has some nice suspension stuff, especially the problem solver line up


ford balljoints [censored] out all the time!

they seem to plague only certain vehicles though

Crown Vic/Town car
Explorer/Ranger
F-150 2wd earlier years(current ones have a redesigned suspension)
Super Duty 4x4
Vans/Super Duty 2wd
Thunderbirds/Cougars of rwd vintage

it seems like earlier versions oF taurus 86-95, Contour, Escort, and Mustang fair much better in the balljoint department then the vehicles listed above

 

[parimento1]

When I worked at the car service, ball joint failures on the Town Cars and Crown Vics were VERY common. The cars would have to be flat-bedded into the mechanic because the wheel pretty much went under the car. Usually the front end would clunk and feel loose before they let go, but sometimes they failed suddenly, stranding the driver. If I am not mistaken the ball joint on upper/lower A-arm suspensions is highly stressed, unlike on strut suspensions. The Econoline vans have similar, if not worse ball joint problems.

 

[Kaboomba]

I recently purchased two MOOG ball joints for my venerable Buick Park Avenue. They were the same part number, but the parts themselves had a half-dozen minor differences between them, most obviously a cast stud versus a turned/hardened stud and a permenantly fixed MOOG boot versus a loose generic rubber boot.

Can anyone speak to this? How about the Raybestos premium suspension parts, which look like former Spicer parts?

Thanks for all your input on this. I'm preparing to purchase all new parts for my gramp's Merc.

K

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
I recently purchased two MOOG ball joints for my venerable Buick Park Avenue. They were the same part number, but the parts themselves had a half-dozen minor differences between them, most obviously a cast stud versus a turned/hardened stud and a permenantly fixed MOOG boot versus a loose generic rubber boot.

Can anyone speak to this? How about the Raybestos premium suspension parts, which look like former Spicer parts?

Thanks for all your input on this. I'm preparing to purchase all new parts for my gramp's Merc.

K

You are not the only one to get 2 different looking MOOG parts.

On my Saturn ION I had to replace the swaybar end links. One was 100% metal on the outside, the other had some plastic piece in the center of the joint.

I hope that doesn't mean I got 1 weak one.

 

[Kaboomba]

I don't know if the one part is better than the other--but one appears to be beefier...

 

[Fordiesel69]

I talked to several fleet mechanics, and the most common reason for this to happen is improper inspection. The key is to raise the frame, then use a jack to raise the ctrl arms to half way. Then you can pry the tire in and out to visualize the play in the joints. Ford is not innocent in this either, their dealers still check them wrong.

I am also saying fords OEM stuff is not always that great either, much better than some of the china stuff, but buying a bad joint or them thinking it is great to make a joint that is not greasable is also stupid.

 

[mechtech2]

Non greasable joints usually have very long lives.
They are pretty good nowadays.
I actually could care less if there is a grease fitting on there for my own stuff.