I plan on replacing the ball joints on my TJ as preventative maintenance. While I'm at it, is there a worthwhile ball joint upgrade that anyone has experience with or should I just run the OE Spicer ones?
X2, that's an upgraded/stronger direct fit ball joint that works well, which is the same ball joint I installed several months ago and that's exactly where I got mine too. Note that you'll need two each of that kit, each kit only does one side.While I don't have any experience with aftermarket ball joints, I can tell you that most people seem to agree that the factory Spicer ball joints are the way to go.
You can get them here for a great price: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007N6OHI0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I personally consider the much pricier Synergy brand ball joints to be junk. Too many reports of problems with them.
There is a modification you can do to possible get them to fit (dimples on the body or soda can mod) but I haven't tried this yet.
Please, avoid major frustration and stick with spicer ball joints. No aftermarket ball joint compares.
The dimpling is not a possible fix, it is a fix. I have a neighbor with an old Mercedes 300D with a manual trans. The flywheel weighs about 50 lbs and it has a separate ring gear for the starter pinion gear. The trans got stuck in 3 gear and he needed to move it so he did so by feathering the clutch and got it very hot as in hot enough that the flywheel expanded enough to stretch the ring gear until it lost it's press fit and spun freely on the flywheel. He, like most of us is kinda poor and asked me to help him fix it.
We turned the flywheel on edge and I dimpled it with a sharp center punch in a 1/8" x 1/8" pattern all the way around the shoulder where the ring gear sits. When that was done I set the ring gear on top and heated it up with a torch like you do normally to install one, it expanded just like it was supposed to and when it got large enough, it dropped into place like normal. When it shrunk back down to size he installed it and it is still working just like a new one.
That will work the same way on a ball joint body and if you use some 609 Loctite when you install them, they will work just fine.
Don't delete it. We all f*+' up occasionally. I just figured you were trying to get back at me for teasing others.Stinger im sorry, i was thinking axle u joints. its been a long day ha. ill delete my post.
I posted someplace on my experience with my first set of Synergy ball joints. So they went bad less than 5000 miles. They were replaced under warranty and I installed the second set about a year ago. Haven't put but maybe 3000-4000 miles on the new set.
Anyways, I like things tight so I replaced all my Currie Johnny joint bushings. The rear uppers were shot. Rest looked like new but I swapped them anyways. Took it down the street to 4 Wheel Parts and they aligned it. It drove good as new.
Yesterday I developed death wobble. Checked everything and couldn't find out what was up. Then I remembered it did the same thing when the ball joints went to crap. Sure enough, the new set is crap too.
So I'll try and find a set of Spicers. I can't believe how these companies push this crap
I should of never put the warranty set on but I had them. Live and learn.
I try and sway people away from the "upgraded" ball joints all the time. Synergy is the only one I know of who makes a supposed "upgrade" ball joint for the TJs, but your story echos pretty much every other story I've heard about them as well. They're garbage and they don't last anywhere near as long as the factory spicer ball joints.
The Spicer 706944X ball joints can be had for a very good price.
OthersSynergy is the only one I know of who makes a supposed "upgrade" ball joint for the TJs, .
I just placed an order about an hour ago for 2 sets. Thinking about maybe ordering a big brake kit too. Just do it all at once.
Others
TeraFlex
Alloy USA
Dynatrac
Bone Fish
Rare Parts
One or two more I don't recall.