Lower Control Arms - are the ball joints really not replaceable?

[TannerVoss1231]

I just installed new lowers to get rid of some horrible ball joint noise. I do a lot of off roding so it'd be nice to put new bushings and a new ball joint into the old control arms to have backups.

A while back I spent an afternoon hammering and squeezing the absolute shit out if the ball joint and never got it to budge.
Information seems to be mixed from what I've found searching posts. I don't know if aluminum vs steel knuckle plays a part in if the ball joint is replaceable but even with a removal kit I never got it to budge a millimeter.
Are my old LCAs actually just scrap steel now or can I get them ready for a new life?

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[diesel924]

Alldata says they are serviceable without replacing the arm. I'm not at work so I can't look at the factory manual.

 

[diesel924]

It looks like the Tremor has removeable LBJ's but the other 4X4's don't, the whole control arm has to be replaced.

 

[airline tech]

Even if you were to get the Ball Joint out - Ford does not sell it separately as they are a swaged pressed fit -and do not have the snap-rings like the Tremor style

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

It looks like the Tremor has removeable LBJ's but the other 4X4's don't, the whole control arm has to be replaced.

Even if you were to get the Ball Joint out - Ford does not sell it separately as they are a swaged pressed fit -and do not have the snap-rings like the Tremor style

Bummer, would the Tremor LCAs fit non-Tremor 4x4s?

Maybe, it would make sense for some folks to do just that so when round two comes along for the LBJs, it’ll be easier and less expensive.

But, something tells me they likely won’t fit.

 

[stringbreaker]

Another of Ford's better ideas

 

[TJC]

I just installed new lowers to get rid of some horrible ball joint noise. I do a lot of off roding so it'd be nice to put new bushings and a new ball joint into the old control arms to have backups.

A while back I spent an afternoon hammering and squeezing the absolute shit out if the ball joint and never got it to budge.
Information seems to be mixed from what I've found searching posts. I don't know if aluminum vs steel knuckle plays a part in if the ball joint is replaceable but even with a removal kit I never got it to budge a millimeter.
Are my old LCAs actually just scrap steel now or can I get them ready for a new life?

Do you have a hydraulic press? I gotta believe that 10 or 15 tons of pressure will pop them right out.

 

[TannerVoss1231]

Another of Ford's better ideas

Unreal. Guess I'll start looking at a tremor conversion. Aftermarket LCAs at $2k is also unappealing

 

[Jason B]

Unreal. Guess I'll start looking at a tremor conversion. Aftermarket LCAs at $2k is also unappealing

How many miles on your truck?
OEM LCA are about $350 per side.

 

[TannerVoss1231]

How many miles on your truck?
OEM LCA are about $350 per side.

It's currently at 63k but it the ball joint began clunking at least 5k miles ago, we just had a kid and I've been busy so it was on the back burner.
$350 instead of $20 is ridiculous, I won't buy OEM to replace OEM junk.

I'll start keeping an eye on junk yards for tremor knuckles, tie rods, CVs, and LCAs

 

[airline tech]

since you have a 2020 - the year Ford changed the LCA's - Aluminum or Steel, it may be beneficial to determine which you actually have installed - If steel the Tremor LCA should be a direct fit and that is all you would need (to gain replicable ball joints)

However, the Ford parts diagrams are not the greatest in providing details for this matter,
We know that for the (Upper Control Arm & Ball-Joint) must match the Knuckle (Aluminum or Steel) due to ball joint taper (attach point) it appears that the LCA does not require this (mandate) for proper fit.
Bottom Line - is it may be entirely possible to just swap out the LCA's with Tremor style without any issues or any other modifications for either the Aluminum or Steel Knuckle, but would need some verification on this as being true and the only thing the Tremor Style LCA's provide is a stronger casting and serviceable ball joints other than that they are the same as the Non-Tremor arms

 

[TannerVoss1231]

since you have a 2020 - the year Ford changed the LCA's - Aluminum or Steel, it may be beneficial to determine which you actually have installed - If steel the Tremor LCA should be a direct fit and that is all you would need (to gain replicable ball joints)

However, the Ford parts diagrams are not the greatest in providing details for this matter,
We know that for the (Upper Control Arm & Ball-Joint) must match the Knuckle (Aluminum or Steel) due to ball joint taper (attach point) it appears that the LCA does not require this (mandate) for proper fit.
Bottom Line - is it may be entirely possible to just swap out the LCA's with Tremor style without any issues or any other modifications for either the Aluminum or Steel Knuckle, but would need some verification on this as being true and the only thing the Tremor Style LCA's provide is a stronger casting and serviceable ball joints other than that they are the same as the Non-Tremor arms

From the research I've done I would need CVs, tie rods, knuckle and possibly some brake line brackets. I definitely have the steel knuckle, that sumbitch is heavy

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