Replacing lower ball joints on Ford Ranger
 

Hello. I just put a new set of tires on my 2000 Ranger XLT 4 w.d. Super Cab. I had to take it in to the shop back in August to have a new thermostat and clutch fan put on and while they were rotating the tires and oil change, they told me I needed a front end alignment. I was trying to get as much wear out of my tires then as I could, so I let them do it. I put a new set of tires on my truck yesterday, same size as before, 16" and when I was driving it I noticed it wanted to pull to the left. I tried it in different locations of the road and noticed the same thing. I took it back in today to where they did the alignment and they said it was still o.k., but the lower ball joints had a little play in them and that may be my problem. They gave me a price of right at $400.00 to do this. The truck only has 60,000 miles on it and this will be the first major work done to it. How hard would it be for a novice weekend mechanic to do this work? I hate to shell out the money, but if I need to, I will. Thanks

Depends on if they are pressed in, riveted in, or bolted in. Bolted in is easiest, pressed in is toughest. I think yours are either bolted or riveted. Call around to NAPA or CarQuest or something, and see what the replacement is.