Ball joint play

[tomtaylz]

Wanted to bring the conversation here to get more eyes.

To give some background, we were installing new brakes, and found a loose ball joint lower on my drivers side, I have been having a left pull which I thought it might be the cause of.

Blaine mentioned the following, I didn’t want to alter his words so I thought I’d quote:

Easy movement of the lower pin is not an indicator for replacement. I wouldn't replace them unless they had more than 1/8" of vertical movement.

Is this normal play? Doesn’t seem to have vertical movement just playing with it, although do I need more forces than just a hand to determine any vertical movement?

 

[Daryl]

Here’s my opinion, replace it. You have 40K miles on it. You already have it apart. Spicer ball joints are not expensive.

 

[tomtaylz]

Here’s my opinion, replace it. You have 40K miles on it. You already have it apart. Spicer ball joints are not expensive.

Yeah I agree, just trying to find somewhere I can get them, was hoping to have it buckled up by the weekend, and the ball joints are messing me up. I got some from rock auto which were supposed to be here tomorrow but look like they will be delayed lol.

 

[bobthetj03]

Can you get some Moog's any faster? If I couldn't get Spicers, Moogs would be a good second choice.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Can you get some Moog's any faster? If I couldn't get Spicers, Moogs would be a good second choice.

Personally I'd absolutely wait for the Spicers.

 

[Sundowner]

Personally I'd absolutely wait for the Spicers.

Amazon has them for $54 per set, with free two-day shipping for Prime accounts.

 

[mrblaine]

Can you get some Moog's any faster? If I couldn't get Spicers, Moogs would be a good second choice.

I won't install Moog ball joints. And I will continue that policy until they start paying labor claims. I put two sets in a rig on 35's in 10,000 miles. No one paid me to swap them out, twice.

 

[mrblaine]

Amazon has them for $54 per set, with free two-day shipping for Prime accounts.

If he doesn't have Prime, someone with Prime can order, ship them to his address for the same money and he can reimburse.

 

[mrblaine]

Wanted to bring the conversation here to get more eyes.

To give some background, we were installing new brakes, and found a loose ball joint lower on my drivers side, I have been having a left pull which I thought it might be the cause of.

Blaine mentioned the following, I didn’t want to alter his words so I thought I’d quote:


Is this normal play? Doesn’t seem to have vertical movement just playing with it, although do I need more forces than just a hand to determine any vertical movement?

View attachment 80722

Pretty normal. If there is vertical play, you can easily push the pin up.

 

[Sean Allen]

What about Synergy ball joints? Are they a truly better design, or is it hype?

 

[mrblaine]

What about Synergy ball joints? Are they a truly better design, or is it hype?

I'll use Moog before them.

 

[tomtaylz]

Amazon has them for $54 per set, with free two-day shipping for Prime accounts.

Amazon site shows out of stock around here at least so won’t be in until end of next week. I’ll probably call some dealers/off road shops

 

[bobthetj03]

In stock, and they'll ship same day.

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...MIvomc_dHw4AIVQyCtBh2d0QgBEAYYBCABEgLfFfD_BwE

 

[S.McArthur]

In stock here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UTD76GY/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Jerry Bransford]

What about Synergy ball joints? Are they a truly better design, or is it hype?

Possibly the worst ball joint design for a Wrangler ever. Doesn't last long and it wrecks the mounting surfaces in the knuckles and C's.

Synergy's knurled mounting surface is what wrecks the axle's ball joint mounting surfaces.

 

[Sean Allen]

@mrblaine @Jerry Bransford Good to know. It's your guy's wisdom that makes this forum priceless. Thank you.

 

[mgroeger]

Possibly the worst ball joint design for a Wrangler ever. Doesn't last long and it wrecks the mounting surfaces in the knuckles and C's.

Synergy's knurled mounting surface is what wrecks the axle's ball joint mounting surfaces.

View attachment 80804

PO put these on about 10k miles ago. Leave them until they fail and deal with whatever happens or try to replace now?

 

[Sundowner]

Possibly the worst ball joint design for a Wrangler ever.

I think that one "load control" set is actually worse, but these are a close second.