Has anyone on here used the Crown Automotive 83500202HD Heavy Duty Ball Joint Set from Quadratec? My son just gave me a set he had bought for his jeep, but never used them before selling it.
Crown Automotive 83500202HD Heavy Duty Ball Joint Set from Quadratec
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While I haven't used them, I wouldn't put them on. The factory Spicer 706944X ball joints have proven time-and-time again to be the ones to use. To this day, I have yet to hear of a "heavy duty" ball joint that lasts longer than the stock Spicer ones. Hell, the Synergy ones get absolutely trashed (read more about that in this thread: Which ball joints are the best for my Jeep Wrangler TJ) in terms of lasting most people no more than 10k miles.
In addition, I'm not sure I trust Crown with putting out anything that would be better than a factory replacement part.
However, having said this, since you have them, I would definitely put them in and see how long they last. You could be the test dummy, which isn't a bad thing considering I've yet to hear from anyone running them.
In other words, I wouldn't waste my money on them, but since your son got them for you, why not give them a try?
In addition, I'm not sure I trust Crown with putting out anything that would be better than a factory replacement part.
However, having said this, since you have them, I would definitely put them in and see how long they last. You could be the test dummy, which isn't a bad thing considering I've yet to hear from anyone running them.
In other words, I wouldn't waste my money on them, but since your son got them for you, why not give them a try?
My thoughts exactly, and since I just went over 100k miles, and I have just recently developed a clunking noise in the front end (but only when going over small bumps w/wheels straight) I figure I may as well change them AND my control arms.
I just installed a set of xrf ball joints that I got for free. Free Parts are free parts and if they last me 20-30 or hopefully a hundred thousand miles. At the end of the day all I did was work on my Jeep and I enjoy working on my Jeep. And if I have to swap them out to Spicer ball joints I get to work on my Jeep some more. It's a win-win
How many ball joints can be swapped in until the ears will no longer accept a ball joint? Or is the material from the ball joint made to break away vs the ear on the C?
That is the million-dollar question.....
I don't know if there's an exact number of how many times you can do it. I know Moog sells ball joints that are slightly larger than stock. I believe they call him their problem solver.
I have heard of people that have had issues. But it also makes me wonder if they were installing the ball joints straight or had them cockeyed and scrape the sides.
Corrosion has a big play in the matter to. When you remove a ball joint there's usually a little surface rust on the inside of the socket.
Makes me wonder if low corrosion areas can be replaced more often than high corrosion areas?
My current axle has over 200k miles. The OE BJs were swapped for new spicers. When I bought the axle those were shot and I put another new set in. So that is three at least and they still were a tight fit for what its worth...
I suspect the material on the BJs are softer than the axle
I suspect the material on the BJs are softer than the axle
It takes as many as it takes until it no longer retains the interference fit.
As above, I'd go strictly with the above recommended Spicer ball joints. Sell the Crowns on eBay or Craigslist.
We are experimenting with the Terrain Tough stuff but we don't have a good answer yet. We are using them in a rig that kills a set of Spicer's about twice a year depending on how many trails it runs.
Have you ever had any experience with the XRF ball joints. Local shop near me swears by them.
Only thing i found was a mix of love hate with dodge truck guys. But no jeep reviews. I installed them because they were free and figured i would take a chance.
Strange thing i noticed that they share the same part number as Moog.
Some of the love hate with the XRF stems from what I recall was a not so good batch. As for the part number, they are just using an industry standard numbering system.
We've tried them. They failed miserably in the Jeep TJ. When I called about the warranty, they were less than enthusiastic about fulfilling their million mile warranty. I'm not gonna work that hard to get something handled.
We are curious as well. We would like to find something just a bit more durable than the Spicer and so far, it isn't to be found.
I won a set of those at a Jeep night last summer. Haven't installed yet... I'll be curious about your findings as well.