We have a 96 ford taurus had ball joint, front assem, lower ball joints replaced & axle aaem both sides replaced after doing this my husband drived homed it all basically poped off mechanic thinks might have differant trany so I was wondering what differant tranys could bolt up to a 96 ford taurus ( U engine)

Here's a link showing you how. How To Install Replace Front Drive Axle CV Joint Ford Taurus 96 07...

If you don't have a 'Ball joint splitter'.
You won't get very far.
But, if you do. It's not too taxing a job.
Firstly you need to locate the two fixings, attatched to the subframe, under the engine.
'Crack' them off. You may need a good amount of leverage, so make sure you're in a comfortable position. (& not likely too pull your back etc!:)
But do not remove them yet,..
Then you need to locate the fixing of the ball joint on the 'hub' end, 'Loosen it a couple of turns, and whack it with a hammer. Loosen again, and repeat the process, until it's possible to remove the nut, on the joint, (& this is where the splitter is required, potentially.)
and proceed to loosen the ball joint, from the hub fixing.
Sometimes, the ball joints are ceased on,
making removal very difficult unless you have oxy-cetaline, to 'super heat' the 'hub' fixing, rather than the ball joint.
(Remember, you want to expand the correct piece of metal!)
Then, it will fall out into your hands.
And there you go.
Just make sure you take all the neccesary precautions and wear gloves, safety glasses etc.
Or if all this, sounds too risky, just remember.
It is!
Good luck with that:)

I take it that this is a Ford car in which case I doubt very much that it has king pins in the front end. It will have either an upper and lower ball joints in control arms or a lower ball joint on the end of a strut. Ford ball joints are riveted in from factory and the rivets have to drilled out and the new ball joints will have the correct bolts to replace the rivets IN the case of a strut the lower ball joint is replaced as above and the strut will have a replaceable insert in it that you can remove and fit a new insert in place . Ford stopped using king pins when they gave away "I" beam front axles .

Wheel Spindle, F-150, F-250, F-350
Removal

1. Raise the front of the vehicle and install safety stands.
   

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to Section 04-04 .
   

1. Remove the disc brake caliper (2B120) from the rotor and wire it out of the way. Refer to Section 06-03 .
   

1. Remove the dust cap, cotter pin, nut retainer, nut, washer and front wheel bearing (1216).
   

1. Remove the rotor from the front wheel spindle (3105).
   
   
   
   
   
   Item Part Number Description 1 606085 Clamp Bolt 2 3B404 Camber Adjuster 3 800895 Nut 4 800937 Nut 5 3049 Front Suspension Upper Ball Joint 6 3050 Front Suspension Lower Arm Ball Joint 7 3105 Front Wheel Spindle 8 642569 Cotter Pin 9 3304 Steering Sector Shaft Arm Drag Link 10 383489 Nut 11 3001 Front Axle Assembly 12 388727 Bolt A - Tighten to 77-103 Nm
   (57-75 Lb-Ft) B - Tighten to 68-92 Nm
   (50-67 Lb-Ft) C - Tighten to 113-153 Nm (83-112 Lb-Ft) D - Tighten to 340-460 Nm (250-339 Lb-Ft)

1. Remove bearing cone and roller (1201) and wheel hub grease seal (1190). Discard the seal.
   

1. Remove front disc brake rotor shield (2K004). Refer to Section 06-03 .
   

1. Disconnect the steering linkage from the integral front wheel spindle and spindle arm by removing the cotter pin and nut and then removing the front wheel spindle tie rod from the spindle arm with Tie Rod End Remover TOOL-3290-D or equivalent.
   

1. Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the lower ball joint stud.
   

1. Remove the nut from the axle clamp bolt and remove the bolt from the axle.
   

1. Remove the camber adjuster from the upper ball joint stud and axle beam. If required, use Ball Joint Removing Tool D81T-3010-B or equivalent to remove adjuster.
   

1. CAUTION: Do not use a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the axle as this will damage the seal and the ball joint socket.
   Strike the inside area of the axle as shown to pop lower ball joints loose from the axle beam.
   

1. Remove the front wheel spindle and ball joint from the axle.
   
   

Ball Joint, F-150, F-250, F-350 SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED Description Tool Number U-Joint Tool T74P-4635-C Ball Joint Remover T94T-3010-AH
Removal

1. Remove the front wheel spindle (3105) and ball joint assembly from the axle. Refer to Wheel Spindle, F-150, F-250, F-350 in the Removal and Installation portion of this section.
   

1. NOTE: Lower ball joint must be removed first.
   
   Install the front wheel spindle in a vise and remove the snap ring from the lower ball joint.
   

1. Remove the lower ball joint from the front wheel spindle using U-Joint Tool T74P-4635-C and Receiver Cup D81T-3010-A5 or equivalent for F-150. Use Ball Joint Remover T94T-3010-AH for F-250 and F-350.
   

1. Turn the forcing screw clockwise until the ball joint is removed from the front wheel spindle.
   
2. CAUTION: Do not heat the ball joint or the front wheel spindle to aid in removal.
   Assemble U-joint tool and cup on the upper ball joint, and turn forcing screw clockwise until ball joint is removed from the front wheel spindle.
   
   
   Installation
   
   1. CAUTION: Do not heat the ball joint or axle to aid in installation.
      NOTE: Upper ball joint must be installed into the front wheel spindle first.
      
      NOTE: Individual ball joint tools are included in Ball Joint Adapter Set D81T-3010-A or equivalent.
      
      To install the upper ball joint, assemble C-frame assembly, Ball Joint Receiver Cup D81T-3010-A5 and Installation Cup D81T-3010-A1 and D81T-3010-A3 or equivalents inside cup D81T-3010-A4 or equivalent in position on the front wheel spindle.
      
   1. Turn forcing screw clockwise until ball joint is seated.
      
      
      
      
   

remove passenger side wheel remove center nut on axle shaft i believe a 33 mm remove cotter pin on lower ball joint remove nut on lower ball joint with a ball joint seperating tool(pickle fork) seperate lower ball joint might need to tap axle shaft out of the wheel bearing pull the whole assembly aside where the axle goes into the transmission use a pry bar and pry out on the axle sometimes are stuck in pretty good then reverse the procedure to install be sure to torqe axle nut to specefications
good luck chris

The easiest way is too remove the whole knuckle and remove the joint on a bench. The Ball Joint is in the knuckle, not in the lower control arm. Try to not break pinch bolt on lower strut clamp. Hope this helps.. :-) Cobra

It's easier to put in a rebuilt axle. The steps are as follows

1. Remove the brake caliper, pads, and rotor.
2. Remove the axle nut.
3. Remove the lower ball joint retaining bolt and separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
4. Push the splined axle out of the knuckle.
5. Then, use a pry bar to pop the axle shaft out of the transmission. Insert the new axle shaft and give it a tap with a hammer to pop the "C" clip into position.
6. Then reverse the procedure.

Make sure you only do one side at a time. If you pull both axles, the side gears in the transmission can slip out of place, causing a real headache.

Lower Ball Joint Inspection

1. Before servicing the vehicle refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Prior to carrying out any inspection of the ball joints inspect the wheel bearing.
4. Have an assistant pull inward and outward on the top and the bottom tire. Mount a suitable dial indicator and measure the movement between the ball joint and the lower arm. If the movement is at or exceeds 0.03 in. (0.75 mm) install a new ball joint.

Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Remove the knuckle from the front suspension.
3. Remove the snap ring from the ball joint.
4. Press the ball joint out of the knuckle with a suitable ball joint press and adapters.

hello,yes you do have to take the hub off to replace the ball joint with the ball joint being on the back side of the hub. hope this helps and please rate this.

first of all you will need a balljoint press and a hub nut socket then you just have to remove the lockout and hub to pull out the axle to get to the ball joint and you alway replace upper and lower at the same time.