Reese_XJ

I am goin to replace my ball joints, and I was wandering if there was heavier duty ball joints instead of just basic ball joints? I figured I would go ahead and upgrade since I was goin to replace the old ones. Also is there any suggestions on what else I should go ahead and change out while I am doin this?

ddeadserious

How many miles do you have on your Jeep?

The answer is probably over 50,000 if you're replacing the ball joints by now.

So the reality is that the "best bang for your buck" is spicer ball joints, considering that's what came in your Jeep and lasted this long.


To do the ball joints, you take the entire front end apart except for the gears, so while you've got everything apart, it'd be worth your time in the long run to replace the unit bearing and axle shaft u-joints at the same time. Hell, may as well do a brake job too if you need it!

Reese_XJ

yeah i have 165000 miles on my jeep. I just bought it last year with around 158000. I been noticing some popping when I take sharp turns.

dabeast727

Hmmm i think i have the same problem... Mine doesnt do it really in sharp turns, sometimes when i reverse or something, it seems only to happen when i first start the car in the morning, its as if its like its "stiff" and needs to "pop loose" or something and then it really doesnt do it anymore. Mines got 100,400 miles. Not sure if theyve ever been replaced but i keep them lubricated so idk. Ive just seen pics of what happens if they break and it does NOT look fun haha

Reese_XJ

I dont really take a lot of sharp turns during my daily drive, but when I go to my regular gas station I usaully take a sharp turn when i leave and everytime i hear the pop. I always forget later to try a another sharp turn to make sure that it is the ball joints.

dabeast727

does yours shimmy (steering wheel jolks left and right) real bad when doing a full lock turn? mine does that when i leave my apartment parking space as well, its as if its in 4x4... but its not... but it has the same effect, just to a lesser extent...

Reese_XJ

no it doesn shimmy or jolt. just when I am in a full turn you can feel it pop one time and thats it. nothin really serious but annoying.

dabeast727

I might do mine as well, its going to cost me like $800 for a shop to do it so screw that haha

muddeprived

The popping on turns is most likely your u-joints. If you do change the ball-joints, go with OEM cuz they last a LOOONG time. There's no real need to upgrade unless you have a monster rig.