# Ford/Lincoln SUV Ball Joints need replacing?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-lincoln-suv-ball-joints-need-replacing/4757>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lincoln, ford\
**Created:** [September 17, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-lincoln-suv-ball-joints-need-replacing/4757 "2007-09-17T19:47:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jhughes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@jhughes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jhughes)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-lincoln-suv-ball-joints-need-replacing/4757/1 "2007-09-17T19:47:36Z")

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I have a 2004 Lincoln Aviator (very similar to a Ford Explorer) with 75k miles and took it in to diagnose a shimmy in the steering. The mechanic told me I need to replace the upper ball joints, so my question is if anyone else has had this problem with a similar vehicle?  
  
 Thanks,  
  
 John

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-lincoln-suv-ball-joints-need-replacing/4757/2 "2007-09-17T20:11:04Z")

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My brother-in-law went through 3 sets of ball joints in his 5yo F-150. Don’t know if it’s as widespread as GM’s trucks though.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-lincoln-suv-ball-joints-need-replacing/4757/3 "2007-09-17T22:39:09Z")

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Ball joints can go bad anytime and the usual determining factor is environmental and road surface conditions.  
So they can last 30k miles or 250k; it depends.