How to Install Ball Joints on a Mustang

Place the vehicle on a smooth level surface. Turn off the car, put it in park, set the parking brake and put wheel chocks on the rear wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels. Jack the car up from the front cross member until the front wheels are about three to four inches off the ground and place jack stands at the support points just behind the front wheels.Medison Ultrasound Probe Lower the jack. Remove the lug nuts and the front wheels.

With needle nose pliers, remove the cotter pins from the castellated nuts on the upper and lower ball joints and the tie rod ends. Remove the nut from the tie rod end and ball joints. Using a pickle fork and heavy hammer, separate the tie rod end and upper and lower ball joints. Disconnect the front brake line at the wheel. Carefully remove the spindle with the drum and brake assembly intact. A helper will make the job easier. The lower control arm will need to be depressed to remove the spindle assembly.

Remove the bolts for the upper ball joint. Remove the bolts for the lower ball joint if present.Medison Ultrasound Probe The original lower ball joint on the early Mustangss were riveted in. Drill these rivets out with the 1/4 inch drill. Remove both upper and lower ball joints.

Install the new upper ball joint and tighten the bolts. Install the new lower ball joint and tighten the bolts. Repeat this process on the other side. Pry down the lower control arm and reinstall the spindle assembly. Replace the castellated nuts and tighten. Install new cotter pins.

If the tie rod end dust boot was damaged with the pickle fork, replace it with a new dust boot. Reinstall the tie rod end into the spindle.Medison Ultrasound Probe Install the castellated nut and tighten. Install the new cotter pin. Reconnect the front brake line at wheel. Bleed the front brakes. Replace the wheels and lug nuts.