e99 D50 ball joints, what else?

[Big Bore]

So it's time for ball joints. Truck has 148K on the clock. As long as I have the front apart what else should I be doing on a D50? I know it has unitized bearings, but I have no idea what they look like or what that means. Last front end I did was a D60 on my 96 and I did ball joints and bearings at the same time.

Oh, and best source for parts? I usually use a local parts house but I'm open to other suggestions.

 

[Fordcowboy]

The unitized bearing means that if it needs replacing, you have to get the entire hub assembly, and the early 99's are more expensive from what I remember. I'm guessing at 148k I would guess that they will show signs of wear, and if not, they will soon. It would be a good idea to replace all the O-rings on the hub assembly too.

 

[Big Bore]

The unitized bearing means that if it needs replacing, you have to get the entire hub assembly, and the early 99's are more expensive from what I remember. I'm guessing at 148k I would guess that they will show signs of wear, and if not, they will soon. It would be a good idea to replace all the O-rings on the hub assembly too.

I actually had a front end specialist put it on a rack and tell me what it needed, he said lower BJ on pass side and upper BJ on driver, he said bearings were ok, and I was right there watching as he checked and they didn't seem to be loose at all, so is thinking I can just do bearings and not the axle stubs wishful thinking?

Found complete stub and bearing kit here, just under $200 per side. It was the least expensive kit by far (that I could find) that used original OEM Dana Spicer parts.

http://venturesparts.com/store/inde...id=177&zenid=06da9dfe800ba7babe64f14db1f62bc4

FORD F350 F250 SUPER DUTY OUTER AXLE SHAFT KIT 1998-01
$185.98

FORD DANA 50 OUTER AXLE SHAFT PART NUMBER 47750 AND 2002692 With Bearing, Inner Knuckle Seal, U-Joint and Outer Axle Tube Seal

NEW ORIGINAL OEM DANA SPICER PART

USED IN 1998 TO 2001 FORD F250 AND F350 3/4 AND ONE TON 4X4 TRUCKS AND EXCURSIONS

BTW, Bronco graveyard had a significantly less expensive alternative to the dynatrac free spin, just over $1500, if anyone was thinking of doing that. They also have a lot of other D50 parts.

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/c-664

 

[Fordcowboy]

lower BJ on pass side and upper BJ on driver

I think I'm due for an upper and lower BJ too. LOL

The only reason you should have to do the axle stubs is if they got ground down from a bad needle bearing. It seems like the parts you found in the post above are probably referring to the axle stub and the needle bearing that goes at the very back of the hub assembly, and not the unitized wheel bearing. That needle bearing is actually serviceable where as the "wheel bearing" is integrated into the hub. And you can get that needle bearing at Napa or elsewhere for cheap, or just repack it.