Crown Victoria Lower Balljoints
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1995-2002 Balljoints

Part Number	From	To	Comments	Suggested Retail
Napa NCP 260-1463	1995	2002	Aftermarket Napa Chassis Parts Lower Balljoint	$76.31
Moog K8685	1995	2002	Aftermarket Moog Lower Balljoint	$90.22
Spicer 505-1223	1995	2002	Aftermarket Spicer Lower Balljoint	$77.87
TRW 104226	1995	2002	Aftermarket TRW Lower Balljoint	$83.12
Ford F8AZ-3050-AA	1995	2002	Ford Dealership Service Parts Lower Balljoint Kit ("Lubed for life". No Zerk Fitting)	$98.18
Ford 2W7Z-3050-AA	1998	2002	Ford Dealership Service Parts Lower Balljoint Kit (Greaseable. With Zerk Fitting. Used in production on 2002 police interceptors.)	$98.18

Pre-1995 Balljoints

Part Number	From	To	Comments	Suggested Retail
Napa NCP 260-1188	1979	1994	Aftermarket Napa Chassis Parts Lower Balljoint	$108.78
Moog K8259	1979	1994	Aftermarket Moog Lower Balljoint	$113.90
Spicer 505-1049	1979	1994	Aftermarket Spicer Lower Balljoint	$98.45
TRW 10327	1979	1994	Aftermarket TRW Lower Balljoint	$104.68
Ford F2ZZ-3050-A	1990	1994	Ford Dealership Service Parts Lower Balljoint Kit	$103.25

Notes:

• In 1995, the design of the lower ball joint stud and associated steering knuckle mounting hole were altered. The design of the hole in the control arm where the ball joint mounts remained unchanged though. If installing 1995-2002 spindles onto an earlier vehicle, you will need the later 1995-2002 style lower balljoint.
  
• Do not attempt to hammer the balljoints into or out of the control arm, use a proper balljoint press.
  
• There are a variety of aftermarket suppliers of crown vic ball joints
• Ford replacement balljoints use adhesive backed nuts to secure the steering knuckle to the balljoint. These are "one use" fasteners and you do not ever want them "loosening up" while you are "driving".
  
• Some early crown vics have factory installed "castle nuts" with cotterpins instead of adhesive coated lower balljoint nuts. The aftermarket "moog" branded balljoints for 1995-2002 crown vics also use castellated nuts with cotter pins.
  
• The aftermarket supplier "dana chassis" uses nuts with metal that physically deforms to lock them in place after they are installed. These nuts also require a larger socket to install than original equipment ford ones do. Additionally, a balljoint press with the bottom reciever cup installed over the bottom of the balljoint and the upper part of the press clamping against the knuckle around the nut can be used to hold the balljoint stud stationary while the nut is being installed. This is a unique issue with the napa chassis joints, that is not present with the ford joints that use adhesive backed nuts. There may also be an issue with having to remove some grease from inside the boots if the joints are greased prior to installation.
  
• The nut which secures the lower balljoint stud to the knuckle is likely to be on there really tight if your vehicle has lived in a humid area of the country. Some mechanics report success heating the knuckle with a torch before putting a wrench on it, but this may weaken the metal to some extent. Another approach on 92+ vehicles is to seperate the upper balljoint from the control arm, then remove the lower control arm/steering knuckle assembly from the vehicle and secure the knuckle in a well mounted workbench vise and use a large breaker bar on it. A large angle grinder can also be used on the balljoint nut and stud, but care must be taken not to damage the knuckle.
  
• In rare instances, the balljoint stud freely spins in the knuckle when attempts are made to remove the nut retaining the joint stud to the knuckle. This problem appears to be more prelavent in the later 1995+ crown vics that use torque to yeild fasteners than on earlier models that use castellated nuts and cotterpins, but still appears to be uncommon. In such cases, the nut will have to be "cut off".
• The lower balljoint and the knuckle are likely to be really locked together even on relatively low mileage vehicles. Use of two jaw pullers is likely to result in broken pullers. Use of a hammer and a properly sized "pickle fork" will likely seperate the two with some persistence, but safety glasses should be worn in case the pickle fork shatters in the process. Some mechanics find heat from a torch benificial to seperate the balljoint from the knuckle due to the dissimilar expansion properties of the two items, but this may result in weakened steering knuckle metal.
  
• The "lubed for life" suspension joints installed by ford during the vehicles manufacture will be irrepairably damaged if a "pickle fork" is used on them. This can be decieving since the joint may appear tight and the boot undamaged. But the joints will be dangerously loose and ready to pop out of their sockets a couple thousand miles down the road. This is issue is not likely to be encountered though, since the only reason the lower balljoint is probably going to be seperated from the knuckle is if the lower balljoint is being replaced with a new service assembly.
• If the suspenion spring is removed from the vehicle and hits the protective balljoint dust boot in the process, install a new balljoint. The event will likely induce joint failure by weakening the grease boot and allowing contamination inside the joint.
  
• If a failed lower balljoint is being replaced, then it would be a wise idea to replace the rubber bushings that attach the control arm to the frame too. Bushings are avaliable aftermarket, but by the time one adds up the cost of the new balljoints, the new bushings, and the fee to have the new bushings and balljoints pressed in, it may be more cost effective to replace the entire control arm with a new service assembly. This will also lower the chances of expierencing metal fatigue and corrosion issues with the control arm later down the road.
• Most vehicle owners will find it undesireable to replace the ball joints, swaybar links, and wheel bearings only to find that their vehicle still handles poorly. And then have to disassemble the frontend again to install new control arm bushings. Hence the suggestion to install new control arm bushings while the lower balljoints are being replaced.

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