UCA balljoint problems... continued

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Am well into my OME/Bilstein lift now and have hit a snag on the UCA balljoints... would really like them disconnected to make a bit more room to get the new spring/shock assemblies in. Nuts finally came off after copious amounts of PB Blaster and a huge breaker bar, but they refuse to come loose from the knuckle despite initial hammering.

Any other tricks?

(More hammering and bigger hammering perhaps )

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:03 pm

huntbuggy wrote:

bigger hammer

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:16 pm

3 lb hammer one hit, done....
last week the lift we did here was one of most rusted up ones I had ever seen,
but one hit and bam loose
make sure you have the nut back up on part way though so it doesn't drop way down

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Gave them some heavy blows with a 3lb hammer and no go. Was getting late so trying not to wake the neighbors and continue wailing on it

It looks like the passenger side the plastic rim below the boot is now showing which it is barely on the driver's...

Had a bottle jack there last try not for upward pressure really, but to try to keep the UCA from bouncing too much and keep the angle a bit straighter.

Good tip leaving the nut backed off to catch it from falling too far, had my scissor jacks set underneath about an inch short of the arm still in there from adjusting up and down to remove clevis and sway bolts but would probably fall hard... am waiting for that drop.

Next garage session tomorrow perhaps...

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Thx guys. Same hammer, MANY bigger swings on left and right finally did it. Ball joints look okay but showing their age. Guess will have to check deflection when everything is back together to be sure.

Followed the how-to steps so far without too many issues. Both clevis are primed with rustoleum and are going to get a thick coat of hammered black I bought in bulk to do the axle and other parts... so much rust I'm going through emery cloth like crazy. Found a good prep I usually use on guns, nitro solvent takes off rust but doesn't damage the metal - if my gunsmith uses it on barrels that need to withstand 12 gauge explosions figured why not try it. Works really well and doesn't "eat" the metal like phosphoric rust removers do. Just clean off anything before paint - it is acid after all...

Got my damaged tire repaired at Wallyworld for dirt cheap, saves me some time for unforseen crap - can't believe my luck at having to drill out the 20th wheel stud and then finding a screw embedded in a tire when I started this whole job... (local stealership still doesn't have my wheel studs - could've probably had them online by now - oh well).

The front spring/shock assemblies are taken apart no problems and am compressing in the new now, a little nervous but compressors are pretty stout and just fit once things are compressed up. The towers are going to need a bit of rust prevention too but the rubber isos look like new... weird. Bought extra top washers and spare locknuts just to be safe.

The clevis seems a bit tight when I tested on the foot of the Bilsteins, any good tricks for spreading them without scratching the yellow paint off too bad?
(edit) ANSWER: shove a 17mm deep socket between the upper bolt mounts, easy to pull out once on the shock.

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Noticed last night getting things prepped that one of my UCA balljoint studs can be turned around a bit back and forth in it's socket.

This seems to maybe be a bad joint, correct? If they can turn like that does it mean it's already separated or risks doing so?

Am about 10 minutes away from ordering JBAs just to be on the safe side and get alignment / spring contact cleared up once and for all...

Thx for your help and comments!

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

(this is the longest conversation I've had with myself in awhile, excluding the cursing alone in the garage lately...)

Am definitely due for JBAs it seems, searched here and jeepkj for balljoint problems and separation posts so took a closer look. They're both spinning, driver's side worse - freely - and the inside edge of the boot on one is exposed to the elements, not torn just looks like the bottom seal failed at sometime. Running my pinky finger behind in it brings out no grease... I guess after 10 years it's just their time?

So loosened up 3 outta 4 of the pesky UCA nuts but will keep messing with the last rear driver's side one... nasty placement.

So with an elbow joint and extension you can get at this last UCA nut on the driver's side supposedly... but not much force can be applied really. Can just get stubby wrenches on the nut and (heavily rusted) bolt clearing the exhaust manifold but it's torture.

More PB on the bolt side only and hope and a prayer impact takes it off. (Assuming I can get the gun in without disturbing too much like power steering lines)

Any other tricks?

That and hoping I can safely put in the rest of my lift and still have enough play to wiggle in the new JBAs...

Liberty02sport · **Posted:** Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:57 am

Wishing you the best of Luck on your install headaches, your experiences sound about like mine. Hang in there you'll get it done.

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Darn, JBAs didn't arrive today - was hoping to get them in this weekend. Guess living in Canada as usual sucks for waiting for packages.

Everything is prepped and ready for them. Cleaned out area, holes, new bolts and nuts etc... should I expect these to be a bit bigger balljoint or tighter fit into the knuckle?

Lots of work still on ARB install I guess to keep me busy.

roccet · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:33 pm

Has anyone sued jeep or been able to recover any costs .. This just happend yesturday.
I already replaced my ball joints a few years ago via the recall. So now that these are the replacement ball joints and they still caused damage what is my recourse..

If i have no recourse then are there instructions somewhere about how to replace my upper control arms??? i have the replacement control arms already i just never installed them.. OLD MAN EMU upper controls arms have been sitting in my garage for a year i just have not been able to find a shop that is willing to install them or even able to give me a quote as to how much.. so im pretty sure im going to have to install these myself.

My insurance knows about my accident but i have not made a claim and not sure if i want to contact them about this until i find out if jeep will cover any of this.

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Dealer installed parts and labour should have a warranty depending where you are. (Here in Canada I think I got 1 year on the lowers...)

The uppers were never recalled in Canada but in the US check the NTSB bulletins covering your model years I think there are a couple, so you might have recourse if you write to Chrysler to install factory but haven't heard any good things about people getting any breaks when it comes to installing aftermarket. (As an example I have Moog K3199 lower BJs sitting in my toolkit just in case and the dealer said last time I was in I'd have to pay full pop regardless of recall or warranty... so I'll do it myself next time I undo the whole front for another project).

If doing the work yourself, get a copy of the FSM - the factory service manual for your year in the Suspension section will have very detailed instruction on how to do exactly what I did in this thread and my other recent one on JBA 4.5 installation. With the right tools it's actually a pretty easy job to do on your own. My uppers were definitely due... see you're in the same boat so good luck!

Pote · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:28 pm

roccet wrote:

Has anyone sued jeep or been able to recover any costs .. This just happend yesturday.
I already replaced my ball joints a few years ago via the recall. So now that these are the replacement ball joints and they still caused damage what is my recourse..

If i have no recourse then are there instructions somewhere about how to replace my upper control arms??? i have the replacement control arms already i just never installed them.. OLD MAN EMU upper controls arms have been sitting in my garage for a year i just have not been able to find a shop that is willing to install them or even able to give me a quote as to how much.. so im pretty sure im going to have to install these myself.

My insurance knows about my accident but i have not made a claim and not sure if i want to contact them about this until i find out if jeep will cover any of this.

When I did my factory recall of the lower ball joints I was not really having any issues with them but did the recall anyhow :roll:

. Well fast forward about six months from the time they did the recall, the "new ones" they put in failed....I swear its rigged. From there I said screw letting them do anything with their known crappy part and went with aftermarket serviceable ones. Those have been going strong now for about two years and are holding great with my new lift. JBA upper arm...that thing is sweet. Highly recommend.

UCA balljoint problems... continued

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