1996 Ford Explorer Upper Ball Joint

DIRTDEVIL77571

MEMBER
1996 FORD EXPLORER
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
145,000 MILES

Ok I replaced my upper balll joint and control arm yesterday on the driver side and today I take off the wheel to do the other side (Passanger) and its different the other side has a control arm that goes to the bushings and also it has a piece that achully bolts onto the control arm and that piece has the bell joint but the other side didnt have any bolt on it just went from the bushings to the ball joint this one goes from the bushings and the ball joint piece is bolted on to that piece I was wondering because the part I bought is just like the other side so do I need the bolt on piece or can I just install my new piece that I bought and do away with the 2 seperate pieces and make it like the other side? Cuz my piece I bought has the set up of the other side it goes from the bushings to the upper ball joint

2 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok here are the two types of upper ball joints you could have. On the left or drivers side there is only one choice of upper control are ball joint assembly in the first pic below. Now on the right side you could have either the same type of upper control are with ball joint or have and adjustable one pictured below napa part number 260-1464. Hope this helps.