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?
Upgraded ball joints?
- Thread starter TJDave
- Start date
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
You can get them here for a great price: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007N6OHI0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
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.
Oh, pay no attention to that threaded brass insert that is part of the Spicer kit, that is for older YJs, it doesn't get used in the TJ.
I agree with @Jerry Bransford and @LJRubiconGuy. Those are the same ball joints I recently put in my TJ and it's all you need.
There's a few aftermarket 'upgraded' ones available (Synergy comes to mind I believe), but why not stick with the Spicer brand as it is tried and tested!
There's a few aftermarket 'upgraded' ones available (Synergy comes to mind I believe), but why not stick with the Spicer brand as it is tried and tested!
I avoided the Synergy ones for that very reason. I didn't read anything good about them.
Just want to say thanks, I'm about to install a Big Brake Kit, with unit bearings and was unsure which ball joints to go with.
Ahoragi
TJ Addict
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2016
- Messages
- 1,272
I'm chime in since I have some experience with this. I swapped out my spicer ball joints on my xj at 100k. I decided to go with Alloy USA HD Off Road ball joints. They looked like they were beefy and I thought they would last forever. 11,000 street miles later and both sides were clunking and the jeep was all over the road. I contacted them regarding the lifetime warranty and they sent me out another set but before they did I attempted to install spicer ball joints........but they would no longer fit. I was forced to use the warrantied set of Alloy USA joints. Two thousand miles later and both are clunking...again.
AVOID any type of aftermarket ball joint and also avoid ball joints with knurled bodies. This is the reason my axle C holes were stretched and spicer joints no longer fit. They would just fall right into the hole. People have gone with Moog and other aftermarket joints, which are knurled, and realized they don't last very long and then are unable to go back to spicers. 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.
AVOID any type of aftermarket ball joint and also avoid ball joints with knurled bodies. This is the reason my axle C holes were stretched and spicer joints no longer fit. They would just fall right into the hole. People have gone with Moog and other aftermarket joints, which are knurled, and realized they don't last very long and then are unable to go back to spicers. 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.
Ahoragi
TJ Addict
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2016
- Messages
- 1,272
I am really confused. How are you going to use a vise on the control arms. This procedure requires a specialized c clamp type tool. Rent one at Riley, Autozone, etc.
Please tell.me me you are pulling a Stinger and yanking chains!
Please tell.me me you are pulling a Stinger and yanking chains!
Don't delete it. We all f*+' up occasionally. I just figured you were trying to get back at me for teasing others.
Ted
TJ Enthusiast
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.
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.
Ted
TJ Enthusiast
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.
Have you tried any of those ball joints and found any of them to be superior to the Spicers in terms of longevity? I'm just curious since people seem to ask quite frequently.