HOW TO CHECK YOUR BALL JOINTS.

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Wed May 24, 2006 6:25 am

My turn for lbj's. 6 days too new for the recall and too many miles old for warranty. :evil:

Time for some moogs.

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Wed May 24, 2006 11:51 am

05kjrenny wrote:

when i installed my lift i put the nuts back on the upper and almost tight and it started spinning is this normal as it did it on both side probally is by thought i would ask

I think this is normal. It happened to me when we were installing new Moog lowers. It took JJ and I over 30 min. to screw in 1 nut because the bolt kept spinning. I think when the guys at PepBoys pressed them in, they may have flattened the thread just enough to make it tough to screw in.

DispatchedKJ · **Posted:** Thu May 25, 2006 8:46 am

Had to convince the stealership that the lbj is their problem as many libs have had problems with. After they talked to someone in charge they said they would cover it. Forgot to take a pic of it before I took it in. I'll be reporting this failure also. I'll be getting the moog lbj soon though.

Jolly Roger · **Joined:** Thu May 25, 2006 12:59 pm **Posts:** 12

Just purchased my '05 Liberty joined up here and found out about the problem. Liberty was used and had 23000 miles on it. Read the posts got nervous and checked. Driver side 1/4 play up and down passenger just sllightly under that. Arrrggghh! Jeep still under original factory warranty so I will try to take it in soon. I love jeeps always have always will, was skeptical of liberty for IFS and offroad ability but it does pretty good stock. Now however Im not so sure, My CJ is built like a tank

I hope the liberty doesnt fail on the 200+ mile trip to the dealer to have it fixed. wish me luck

Oh its only 4 days old for me btw, silver limited edition 3.7 V6 and 17 inch wheels (will be fixing that for offroad ability) Pretty nutty new vehicle goin out like that (ESPECIALLY A JEEP!!!) ah well. We shall see what can be done

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:21 pm

JeroldBurrow wrote:

Here is a video of my ball joint...

http://www.diresearch.com/4x4/Temp/MVI_0849.AVI

--
Jerold Burrow

I just checked mine.... again today.

My passenger side looks about like that video, but driver's side had so much play and made so much noise, that I'm surprised the wheel hasn't fallen off already.

'04 with 25k.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:52 am

I spoke to my dealer's Service Dept. about my 2003 KJ yesterday. They ran the VIN and said there are no outstanding recalls for my vehicle, so I "have nothing to worry about." I didn't jack up the KJ and inspect myself because I don't have access to a big jack. When I poked my head under the front, the lower ball joints *looked* pretty good. But does appearance give any clue to the overall condition of the parts? What are the symptoms of a failing ball joint? What should we be looking and listening for?

FWIW, I haven't noticed any change in the ride since day one, and there are no noises. That's one of things that impresses me most about my KJ -- it's the most solid, rattle-free vehicle I've ever driven. After three years, it still drives like new.

dark_luther · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:00 pm

As I look into replacing ball joints, I am also tempted to get Al's a arms while I'm at it ... but I have heard that these are causing some of their own problems. Anyone know what these might be?

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:11 pm

dark_luther wrote:

As I look into replacing ball joints, I am also tempted to get Al's a arms while I'm at it ... but I have heard that these are causing some of their own problems. Anyone know what these might be?

I have Al's A arms and beat the heck out of them at Moab. No problems whatsoever. The only thing I've noticed is a bit of tire rubbing at full lock. You'll also have to trim some of the plastic under the fender.

Ed

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:01 pm

Regarding what to look for....

I noticed that my KJ was "wandering" over the road. As in, I'm taking a left curve at about 25-35MPH, and there's this rut in the road, instead of heading straight, when hitting the rut, I'm actually going to my RIGHT. The new ball joints have fixed that problem. It's as straight as an arrow now. Wherever I point it, it goes. Not to mention, my steering is a lot more responsive now. Some people noticed odd tire wear. I didn't notice any. I didn't hear any noises of any type from the front suspension. I haven't had it on the highway / freeway since so I don't know if it fixed the vibration I felt at speed.

However, some unlucky people's wheels have fallen off entirely. I do feel sorry for them.

dark_luther · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:04 pm

Edvalencia wrote:

dark_luther wrote:

As I look into replacing ball joints, I am also tempted to get Al's a arms while I'm at it ... but I have heard that these are causing some of their own problems. Anyone know what these might be?

I have Al's A arms and beat the heck out of them at Moab. No problems whatsoever. The only thing I've noticed is a bit of tire rubbing at full lock. You'll also have to trim some of the plastic under the fender.

Ed

Trim the plastic over the pinch weld? or elswhere?

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:12 pm

dark_luther wrote:

Edvalencia wrote:

dark_luther wrote:

As I look into replacing ball joints, I am also tempted to get Al's a arms while I'm at it ... but I have heard that these are causing some of their own problems. Anyone know what these might be?

I have Al's A arms and beat the heck out of them at Moab. No problems whatsoever. The only thing I've noticed is a bit of tire rubbing at full lock. You'll also have to trim some of the plastic under the fender.

Ed

Trim the plastic over the pinch weld? or elswhere?

I had to trim the plastic above where the arms are bolted. When the tire is fully stuffed, the upper arms swing up and hit the plastic liner.

My wheels don't touch the pinch weld at all. They just rub on the sway bar, and now the a arms.

If I get a chance, I'll take a picture tonight.

Ed

dark_luther · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:19 am

Yes ... please post picture.

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:14 am

No outstanding recalls on my 03 either, but I asked for them to be checked during the 60k service and they were bad. Now they're Moogs.

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:15 am

dark_luther wrote:

Yes ... please post picture.

Sorry, no picture yet. Been really busy.

I'll try to post this weekend.

Ed

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:40 am

dark_luther wrote:

Yes ... please post picture.

Ok, I finally got around to taking the pictures.

On the first picture, you can see where my tire rubs against the a-arm. You can also see where I still need to cut a notch on the bumpstop so that the grease fitting doesn't hit it.

This next image shows where I needed to cut the plastic lining to allow the a-arm to travel up without hitting it.

Overall I am very happy the Al's uppers. Much better than the stock ones.

Hope this helps.

Ed

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:18 am

54K & she's at the dlr right now for LBJs! (& I've only offroaded 2x, light stuff too!) :cry:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:49 am

Cacher123 wrote:

54K & she's at the dlr right now for LBJs! (& I've only offroaded 2x, light stuff too!) :cry:

\

Thats nothing, I have 19k on mine. :wink:

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:57 am

Cacher123 wrote:

54K & she's at the dlr right now for LBJs! (& I've only offroaded 2x, light stuff too!) :cry:

You made it to 54K miles, what's your secret? Dealer just replaced both my LBJ's last week at less than 15K miles and it's never been off road. Come to think of it, the last time I owned a vehicle that needed LBJ's was my high school beater '74 Super-beetle over 20 yrs ago.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:40 am

Quote:

Cacher123 wrote:
54K & she's at the dlr right now for LBJs! (& I've only offroaded 2x, light stuff too!)

>You made it to 54K miles, what's your secret?

My secret is: failure to have them checked! :lol:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:22 pm

I finally checked mine with 25,000 miles on it. I noticed the heat shields were already on them. No problems. Barely moved even when I almost lifted the KJ off the floor jack. No wiggles.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR BALL JOINTS.

Who is online