How to Remove the Lower Ball Joint From a 1998 Ford Taurus 3.0L

The lower ball joint on a 1998 Ford Taurus with a 3.0-liter engine is pressed into the spindle. The location of the ball joint makes it necessary to remove the spindle and place it in a vise in order to press it out. This is a moderately difficult job using air tools, more difficult without. A few special tools are needed for the removal of the spindle and the lower ball joint.

Instructions

1

Raise the front of the Taurus and place jack stands under the sub frame. Lower the car so it rests on the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and tire/wheel assembly using a socket and air gun.

2

Place a socket on the CV axle nut and remove it with the air gun. Remove the two caliper-mounting bracket bolts using a socket and air gun. Lift the caliper and bracket off the rotor and hang it from the coil spring by a length of wire. Pull off the rotor.

3

Remove the nut from the sway bar link stud where it attaches to the lower control arm using a socket. Remove the cotter pin and nut on the outer tie rod end stud. Use the ball joint separator tool to remove the tie rod from the spindle.

4

Remove the ABS speed sensor by removing the small bolt using a wrench. The sensor is on the spindle directly above the tone ring on the CV joint. Disconnect the speed sensor electrical connector.

5

Straighten and remove the cotter pin in the lower ball joint stud using wire cutters. Remove the nut using a wrench. Place the ball joint separator between the ball joint and the lower control arm. Hit the arm on the tool with a hammer until the ball joint separates from the control arm.

6

Pry the control arm down to release the ball joint stud from the control arm. Push the CV axle out of the spindle hub and move it to the rear of the hub. Remove the single large bolt in the mounting flange for the strut. This bolt compresses the spindle neck around the base of the strut holding the strut in place. Use the hammer to tap the spindle off the strut.

7

Place the spindle in a bench vise. Remove the snap ring on the top of the ball joint using the snap ring pliers. Place the ball joint installer over the ball joint with the receiver over the flat side of the ball joint. Place the small cup over the ball joint stud. Use a wrench to turn the tools center shaft clockwise to press the ball joint out.

8

Install the new ball joint by placing the appropriate receiver over the ball joint stud side of the spindle. Use a round, solid block under the pushing side of the tool and turn the center shaft clockwise to push the ball joint in. Make sure the ball joint is going in perfectly straight or it will wedge itself and be difficult to remove or install. Push it in until the flat side is flush with the spindle. Install the snap ring over the stud side of the joint.

9

Install the spindle on the strut first. Align the blade on the strut with the slit in the spindle and tap the spindle up as far as it will go with the hammer. Install the bolt in the spindle and tighten the bolt enough to hold the spindle to the strut for the moment. Insert the CV shaft through the hub bearing on the spindle. It may be necessary to rotate the shaft a small amount to align the splines with the hub bearing.

10

Use the pry bar to move the control arm down and bring the ball joint stud on the spindle over the hole in the lower control arm. Align it and insert the stud through the control arm. Install the nut on the ball joint stud.

11

Tighten the spindle-to-strut bolt to 60 foot-pounds of torque. Tighten the ball joint stud nut to 35 foot-pounds of torque. Install the cotter pin in the stud. Install the sway bar link in the hole for this purpose in the lower control arm.

12

Install the outer tie rod end stud into the spindle, tighten the castle nut and install the cotter pin. Install the large washer over the CV shaft end protruding through the hub bearing. Install the large CV shaft nut and tighten it with the air gun.

13

Install the rotor by pushing it over the wheel studs in the spindle. Install the ABS sensor and plug in the electrical harness connector. Attach the wiring support bracket on the strut using the small bolt.

14

Lower the brake caliper and mounting bracket over the rotor. Align the holes in the bracket with those in the spindle and install the two bolts. Tighten these bolts to 80 foot-pounds of torque. Install the tire/wheel assembly and tighten the lug nuts to 90 foot-pounds of torque. Lower the car to the ground.