Time to replace my upper ball joints...

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:11 pm

So I went to Napa's website and it looks like they only sell the upper ball joints as a combo with the Upper Control Arms... WTF? I really would like to get this done tomorrow... Does anyone know if NAPA has just the balljoints?

Thanks,
Bill

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:16 pm

The upper arms and ball joints are a single unit. Spend a little more for Al's arms, then you can just replace the ball joints, if they ever need replaced.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:20 pm

Dje Ryu wrote:

The upper arms and ball joints are a single unit. Spend a little more for Al's arms, then you can just replace the ball joints, if they ever need replaced.

Then you can also grease them up so they don't wear out as quickly.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:20 pm

Yeah they are one unit only! Go for the jeepin by al arms!

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

Yes, get the Jeepin' by Al upper arms. They'll go well with your lift.

Bodz123 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:18 pm

Yeah! and the welds on al's can break and put your life at risk! Just get the "stock" aftermarket set.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:57 pm

Bodz123
It is possible that anything can fail weather it be the stock UCA's,LBJ's or jeepin by al's UCA. So by saying not to buy Al's arms you might as well tell everyone not to buy a KJ because the lower ball joints can fail and put your life at risk! And IF anything did happen to fail(for some fluke reason) with jeepin by al's UCA's then he would stand by his product 100% and give the best customer service possible. IMO

BeepBeepJeepJeep I would recommend getting al's arms due to the fact that you do have a 2.5" lift and you will have sooner then normal ball joint failure again in the future with the extreme angles the factory UCA's have.

Josh

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:03 am

Ive seen a few threads about the welds breaking on Al's arms but Ive never heard of them failing at high speeds. Usually its just one weld so the wheel doesnt actually fall off like it does with the stock arms.

I hope those arms have been engineered alittle better through the generations.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:03 am

Ok. While I am doing this, is there anything I can do to bump my front up a half of an inch or so? I already have a 3 ring clevis... Also, I seem to recall some people complaining of their tire rubbing on something after installing these... Is there something I can do to prevent this?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:14 am

renegadekj wrote:

Bodz123
It is possible that anything can fail weather it be the stock UCA's,LBJ's or jeepin by al's UCA. So by saying not to buy Al's arms you might as well tell everyone not to buy a KJ because the lower ball joints can fail and put your life at risk! And IF anything did happen to fail(for some fluke reason) with jeepin by al's UCA's then he would stand by his product 100% and give the best customer service possible. IMO

BeepBeepJeepJeep I would recommend getting al's arms due to the fact that you do have a 2.5" lift and you will have sooner then normal ball joint failure again in the future with the extreme angles the factory UCA's have.

Josh

X2

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

I'm pretty sure the ones that broke were the early generations, and broke while on hard core trails that could have broken the stock arms too. The gen 4's are really beefy. I'd be impressed if you managed to break them. Even if you do, Al really stands behind his products. As far as rubbing, it depends a lot on your backspacing. With the 5" backspacing, 8" wide rims, and 245/75R16 Silent Armors I'm running, I don't have any problems. Just had to trim a little under the fog lamp doors.

Powdrdaze · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:05 pm

I went from a little rubbing on the inner wheel well to no rubbing at all after the al's upper a arms.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:08 pm

My original JBA a-arms broke (1st or 2nd gen, my M/Ts rubbed on the actual arms, spacers fixed it), rather the driver side a-arm broke in one weld, when I was offroading a little in the back of my neighborhood in an undeveloped area. I came off a curb real quick and boom it broke. I drove home though cause the knuckle rested against my strut assembly and still allow the tire to spin and turn. The arm probably cracked before the break, so I could have noticed it if I looked I'm guessing. I talked to Marlin, and he honored Al's business principals and sent me a new set of gen. 3 arms. All I paid was shipping; I couldn't have been happier. These news ones are fine, and I've already replaced an UBJ on one that I broke myself. The new arms are worth every penny.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:25 pm

I've been 100% satisifed with my dealings with JBA thus far... I ordered the arms on Sunday, I had them on Tuesday...

Time to replace my upper ball joints...

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