BALL JOINTS AGAIN...WATCH THEM

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:16 pm

I just checked my car and found that the front driver side spring contacts the upper ball joint. I can see grease left on the spring, and the ball joint is out-of-round where the contact is made

The lift kit is Rusty's with Daystar springs and top plate. I just called Quinn and left him a message. Hopefully I'll get some response back ... I noticed that while on the trail, the left driver's side creaks a little when it's flexed, e.g., when the left wheel was on the ground and the right was up. Maybe that was from the contact?

Trodo · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2005 5:44 pm

Is this new urgency applying to all the Liberty years, or still just 02, 03. I mean, are 04, 05's going to have this problem? And is the Liberty line the only one that has this kind of problem (in the Jeep lineup)

And can anyone point to a cause of this wear, besides the usual flaws that show up on vehicles or MTBF. I've read elsewhere that it's because that the B-joint is being pulled in opposite directions. True?

RkyMtnKJ · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:58 am

as clint said, this does apply to ALL KJS OF ALL YEARS but i cant answer the rest of your question sorry

jackie · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 2:08 am

Yikes! I knew I needed an alignment so I just took a quick look at mine based on this post. I am a novice with this stuff but I have a bad feeling about mine now because my kj has similar "symptoms" ... I'm taking it to a professional for a look-over tomorrow.

thanks for the heads up!

BlueFreedom · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:26 pm

Can previous posters (if you happen to revisit this post, obviously) post there miles?

Thanks.

Jason · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:41 pm

BlueFreedom wrote:

Can previous posters (if you happen to revisit this post, obviously) post there miles?

Thanks.

I'm at 40,000 miles on an 04 Limited. The dealership has mine and is "diagnosing" the problem. Based on what I'm reading in this thread, it seems a logical conclusion (to me at least) that my ball joints are going.

jackie · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:47 pm

So I took the KJ into BigO tires for my free rotation and alignment today and asked them to check the ball joints.... the apathetic-looking mechanic said mine were "tambien -no problem". I don't feel really secure about this diagnosis

it is better just to do a preventative replacement with the better brand ?

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:02 pm

Mileage:

First set of 4 21399

Second set 42559

2002 build date 04/01

Edwin · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:05 am

jackie wrote:

So I took the KJ into BigO tires for my free rotation and alignment today and asked them to check the ball joints.... the apathetic-looking mechanic said mine were "tambien -no problem". I don't feel really secure about this diagnosis

it is better just to do a preventative replacement with the better brand ?

If you have the money, it dern sure would'nt hurt. I would........uh, if I had the money. I just changed my driver side ball joint. I went with the factory one. It was $32 compared to $75 to $80 for the Moog. Next time I will put in the Moogs.

1calkid · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:25 am

Edwin, if you look on page 3 of this thread, I posted this link

https://www.rockauto.com/applet3.html

which lists the moog ball joints for $52.79. Didn't know if you seen this or not, they are listed for $20 cheaper then getting them from a local parts store and I got mine delivered to my door in about 2 days.
Just letting you and all others that may be looking for the moog replacements, what I found. There are other sites that have them as well. This was the cheapest that I found.

Good Luck

Trodo · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:21 am

I did the lift the tire test method, zero movement, 14K and change.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:18 pm

Checked 'em

Passenger side: 1.3mm, just under FSM's max of 1.5mm
Driver side: 0

Mileage 41,000

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:47 pm

So I checked both joints the other day. I'd say about a 1/16" in movement.

What are the limits as far as movement in the ball joints. When should they be replaced.

I have an 04 with 31000 miles.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:55 pm

Dover: The FSM says max at 1.5mm, min at 0.

!/16 is over.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:30 pm

HOLY CROW! I just went into the garage and finally did the 2x4 test. It moves A LOT and makes a clunk when it goes. Driver's side more than pass side. 1.5 mm? That's like nothing! I find it hard to estimate distance like this when I'm alone holding the 2x4, but it's got to be 3mm easy!

CRUD!

I had the heat shields put on as part of recall back at under 20k miles. I don't think they replaced them. I've got lift and tons of front bumper damage (scrapes and cracks) and lift kit, skids with marks, oh and 31" tires. I hope they don't give me crap.

ARGH!

lilmatty · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:10 pm

Yeah tell me about it. When I measured 1/16" on the lower right LBJ I I said Awe **** and the word wasn't dank.

Got two Moogs coming from Jeepin Al and a LBJ press coming from Harbor Freight. Once I'm finished I'll be willing to loan the tool to LOSTers'

Just going over the FSM replacing the LBJ loks like a simple little job. But dang, I've been doing so many little repairs on the beast in the past 2 months I have had time to add some goodies I've go for it.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:37 am

Ok, for those of us w/o the time or tools to do this, What's it cost for a dlr to swap out the ball joints?

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 3:40 pm

Well 1/16" is approx .0625" which is equal to 1.574 mm, so it is right at the top of the limits.

I have called the dealership and set an appointment to have is checked out since it is still under warranty. I have had good service from them and no hassle about the lift or mods done to the KJ.

Hopefully my luck will continue.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:34 pm

I just got the call from my dealer: mine were replaced under recall warranty. I have 44k on the clock and, as I stated earlier, I had the KJ recall service done about 2 years ago where I assume they installed the heat shields only, and didn't mess with the LBJ's.

Now the question will be, did they "fix" my clevis lift again on me! Last time they were working on my front diff and noticed the clevis lift and decided to put it back to factory spec! argh!

I'll take good w/bad. I think I had a bad and unsafe situation. I brought the KJ in without a prior appointment and it got fixed same day.

Fouros · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:21 am

i just had my 96000klm service and asked my dealer to check mine

both had over 3mm movement _ they replaced them under warranty

BALL JOINTS AGAIN...WATCH THEM

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