Moog is a very popular brand of aftermarket automotive suspension products. One of the parts they sell in large quantities are ball joints. Ball joints connect the steering knuckle to the control arm(s) and allow for the up and down motion of the vehicle's suspension as well as allowing the knuckle and wheels to be turned by steering wheel input. Over time, the ball joints in your vehicle will need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear. Changing lower ball joints on passenger cars is fairly similar across makes and models. A 2000 Mustang is used as an example.
Instructions
1. Place the wheel blocks in front of and behind the rear wheel opposite the wheel being worked on. Turn the lug nuts counterclockwise with the lug wrench to loosen them without removing them.
2. Place the jack under the frame just behind the front wheel being worked on. Lift the car until the front wheel clears the ground. Place the jack stand under the frame just behind the jack and lower the car onto the stand. Relocate the jack to under the midpoint of the lower control arm. Remove the lug nuts and the tire. Raise the jack until it just makes contact with the lower control arm.
3. Straighten the cotter pin securing the ball joint nut with the long-nose pliers and remove it. Remove the nut by turning it counterclockwise with the wrench or a socket and ratchet. Slide the pickle fork between the lower control arm and the steering knuckle and strike it sharply with the hammer until the ball joint stud is removed from the steering knuckle.
4. Install the ball joint press so as to force the ball joint down and out of the lower control arm. Reverse the tool to press the new ball joint all the way into the control arm. Ensure that the ball joint is properly seated in the control arm. Install the new rubber boot and turn the ball joint stud so that the hole in it faces front and rear.
5. Insert the ball joint stud into the corresponding hole in the steering knuckle and install the nut by turning it counterclockwise on the stud. Make sure the hole still faces front and rear and torque the nut to between 109 and 149 foot-pounds. Insert the new cotter pin in the hole in the stud and bend it over the stud with the long-nose pliers to lock it in place. If the hole in the stud doesn't line up with a hole in the nut, turn the nut clockwise until the holes line up.
6. Lower the jack and relocate it to under the frame again. Hang the wheel on the studs and install the lug nuts by hand by turning them clockwise on the lug studs until they make contact with the wheel.
7. Raise the car off the stand and remove the stand. Lower the car until the wheel contacts the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds in a star pattern. Lower the car and remove the jack and wheel blocks.
Tags: ball joint, lower control, steering knuckle, ball joint, ball joint stud
