Looking for ball joint opinions

[GoldCountry]

Howdy,

Our TJ is on its original ball joints. The jeep just recently hit 50k and it looks like 26 years has caught up with most of the suspension bushings. As we are looking to replace all suspension and steering related components in the near future, ball joints are on the list.

I really like the EMF ball joints we installed in our Ram due to in vehicle serviceability. Looking for something similar for the TJ. So far, this metal cloak option has peaked my interest:

https://metalcloak.com/tj-wrangler-ball-joint-set-upgrade-kit.html

Any other options worth considering?

Thanks!

 

[Ashim]

OEM Spicer. Since they lasted 26 years, why worry about serviceability.

 

[tworley]

$700 for just the balljoints??

I'll stick with the spicers for <$100

 

[John Cooper]

$700 for just the balljoints??

I'll stick with the spicers for <$100

For that price, the should send someone to your house to install
them also..........

 

[GoldCountry]

OEM Spicer. Since they lasted 26 years, why worry about serviceability.

We will be driving the jeep much more now on and off road as it’s my primary commuter now. Hoping to avoid stretching the C with repeated pressing in and out every 40ish thousand miles. I have six vehicles in my maintenance rotation and like options that simplify jobs that aren’t high on the fun list.

$700 for just the balljoints??

I'll stick with the spicers for <$100

For that price, the should send someone to your house to install
them also..........

I get the price is higher than non serviceable, but I factor in the value of my time at $100/hr minimum. So time saving is a big plus for me.

It’s sounding like the consensus is to use spicers and no recommendations on in vehicle serviceable ball joints?

 

[explorerlyon]

I just replaced mine last night with Spicer. Amazon for $75/kit or Summit Racing for $97. The Amazon ones go up and down in price and various sellers. I "rent" the press from AutoZone. I purchased my own adapter kit for the tapered adapter that the rental kits do not have. My original ball joints lasted 100K miles and this is the first replacement. Not sure you really need to do them every 40K miles.

 

[tworley]

I get the price is higher than non serviceable, but I factor in the value of my time at $100/hr minimum. So time saving is a big plus for me.

If all the words on their webpage describing their $700 balljoints impress you and you got the coin, then who am I to stop you?

It’s sounding like the consensus is to use spicers and no recommendations on in vehicle serviceable ball joints?

Most on WTJF will steer you towards spicers.

 

[John Cooper]

If all the words on their webpage describing their $700 balljoints impress you and you got the coin, then who am I to stop you?




Most on WTJF will steer you towards spicers.

Same answer here.

But what can I say, I'm running Metalcloak aluminum control arms, when the flex joints blow i will go with Johnny Joints.

 

[Weasellee]

I run spicers.

 

[GoldCountry]

I just replaced mine last night with Spicer. Amazon for $75/kit or Summit Racing for $97. The Amazon ones go up and down in price and various sellers. I "rent" the press from AutoZone. I purchased my own adapter kit for the tapered adapter that the rental kits do not have. My original ball joints lasted 100K miles and this is the first replacement. Not sure you really need to do them every 40K miles.

Just looked at them, about $75 per side or $150 total. I have several ball joint press tools. Can you show me a picture of the tapered adapter you purchased?

 

[macleanflood]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DJ5JTW7?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[explorerlyon]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DJ5JTW7?tag=wranglerorg-20

That is the exact same set I bought for the taper.

 

[sab]

So far, this metal cloak option has peaked my interest:

https://metalcloak.com/tj-wrangler-ball-joint-set-upgrade-kit.html

This graphic is from the link you posted:

If you look at the design of the inner Cs, the bottom portion is considerably more stout than the top. The reason for this is that the bottom ball joint carries a lot more load than the top, and that load is transferred to the bottom of the C. That's typical for this type of suspension, and the reason why lower ball joints are usually much larger than uppers.

They're claiming that by adjusting the upper ball joint's pre-load, they are putting a higher portion of the load on the upper ball joint, and that is a true statement - pre-loading that upper ball joint puts more load on it and less load on the lower ball joint. However, it also puts more load on that weaker portion of the C. I don't have enough experience with the TJ, yet, to know if the upper portion of the C is a weak point in the system. However, I've seen reinforcement gussets added in that area, which makes me think it is a weak point in the system. Why would you want to put more load on the weak point (assuming it is)?

 

[LJBean]

Over 300K miles on my LJ, I've changed the ball joints 3 times - always with Spicer parts. Most recently a couple of months ago. No sign of stretching on the Cs.

 

[explorerlyon]

Just looked at them, about $75 per side or $150 total. I have several ball joint press tools. Can you show me a picture of the tapered adapter you purchased?

There are various sellers on Amazon. There were some posts in the past about possible fakes on Amazon of Spicer ball joints. If you stick with Amazon as the seller you are likley fine. I used the same ball joint service set as linked in post #11.

 

[Tronner]

Like others have said... Spicers. I would not install anything else. On my previous Jeep I installed the splined Ball joints and that will lead to a stretched c hole. They are oversized and are not made with the same quality Spicer is.

 

[Unique Username]

We will be driving the jeep much more now on and off road as it’s my primary commuter now. Hoping to avoid stretching the C with repeated pressing in and out every 40ish thousand miles. I have six vehicles in my maintenance rotation and like options that simplify jobs that aren’t high on the fun list.

I have 220,000 miles on mine and a ton of off-road miles. My spicer still press in and out of the Cs without any issue. When they do give me issue I will Knurl the joint and sent it home.

My buddy was insisting on spending more for Metal Cloak ball joints so I saved him a good deal of money and picked some up at Apex as it was just down the road. Let him spend a little more money and he has a “better” ball joint. At least he feels that way. I go out of my way to talk people out of Metal Cloak. Friends don’t let friends buy Metal Cloak.

 

[BDub]

What size tire are you running/planning to run? Anything 35 in and down the ball joint deletes do not add much value.

 

[jjvw]

What size tire are you running/planning to run? Anything 35 in and down the ball joint deletes do not add much value.

37" and up there is no benefit from ball joint deletes when the problem becomes stretching the inner C yokes. This is one of several reasons why 37s do not belong on factory axles.

 

[GoldCountry]

What size tire are you running/planning to run? Anything 35 in and down the ball joint deletes do not add much value.

Nothing that big. I have bigger trucks with bigger axles for bigger tires. For me to want to run 35s or larger, I’d want to upgrade axles, gearing and repower. I can do the first two, just not repower due to where I live. Though I’d love to do an aluminum LS or maybe even an r2.8.

Besides daily duty, I’m liking the compactness for getting around my property and tighter trails where 32-33” tires on a jeep are plenty. Heck the 31s have been fine, but with the 1” to 1-1/2” lift I’ll get out of the H&R coils, I may go up to a 32” tire.