I need new Upper Ball Joints

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:45 pm

Went to get an alignment today and was told the upper BJs were shot. This will be the third set of uppers for the 2002 KJ :evil:

Also need steering tie rod ends

Thinking of the Al's Gen 4.5 arms. How difficult is the install? Do I have to remove the strut/spring or can I just remove the castle nut on the ball joint and the two A-arm bolts?

From the picture it looks like I shouldn't need to mess with the strut assembly...

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:33 pm

pop the UBJ out and two bolts per side for the upper arm, do the drivers side first then the passenger when drop in like nothing. Rear drivers side is a bear to get to, but doable, just takes a little while, extensions, good tight swivels Oh and torque them when you have it down on the ground again, plus I had to retighten my drivers side a week later, had a little noise, maybe drank too much after doing the right side???? :shock:

Have something to cut the pockets out top and bottom some while you are at it. Will not take long at all!

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:00 pm

Thanks for the tips Tom!

The wife gave the OK to go with the Al's arms. Dealership wanted $800 for the parts & installation :shock:

Calling JBA in the morning...

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:10 pm

For that kind of money, may as well pick up a set of OME springs. Ya know, in case you want a real bumper in the future, right?

Oh, WEIGHT!! (misspelled purposely

) You already have a backbone and winch on Rusty's springs? no wonder you killed your ball joints. you really should look into med or HD OME's, IMO.

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

tommudd wrote:

pop the UBJ out and two bolts per side for the upper arm, do the drivers side first then the passenger when drop in like nothing. Rear drivers side is a bear to get to, but doable, just takes a little while, extensions, good tight swivels Oh and torque them when you have it down on the ground again, plus I had to retighten my drivers side a week later, had a little noise, maybe drank too much after doing the right side???? :shock:

Have something to cut the pockets out top and bottom some while you are at it. Will not take long at all!

I just had to retighten the bolts on my drivers side too. They were really rattling around on the bumps. Now that they're tight, everything is quiet and smooth.

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:20 pm

Dje - good point. The Detours Backbone/winch combo weighs ~ 80lbs less than an ARB set-up. It's a given the Rusty's springs will sag over time. The OME springs will be the solution after the Rusty's sag (haven't lost 1/8" yet after a year and 1/2)

The JBA arms solution is a go for now... (makes more sense than replacing a 4th set of BJ/A-arms next year :wink:

) the kj needs to be a DD for a few more years...

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:28 pm

I spoke with Marlin and ordered the JBA upper control arm today around 1pm - I received a confirmation e-mail - the new JBA arms shipped out ~ 2PM

I'll get it early next week

Powdrdaze · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:12 pm

You'll love 'em. And don't forget the alignment!

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:33 pm

Powdrdaze wrote:

You'll love 'em. And don't forget the alignment!

I have to say that the arms are great and whats more the service you get from Marlin is top notch !

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:26 pm

I got them today - I'm impressed with the workmanship. I'd take some pics- but the wife took the camera for her vacation

I have Saturday to do the install before the NEJeep.org Roctoberfest Columbus day run. Any tricks to installing the JBA arms? Do I really have to access the upper A-arm bolts from the engine compartment - or can I get access from below?

I appreciate the input...

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:34 pm

JeepinMaxx wrote:

I got them today - I'm impressed with the workmanship. I'd take some pics- but the wife took the camera for her vacation

I have Saturday to do the install before the NEJeep.org Roctoberfest Columbus day run. Any tricks to installing the JBA arms? Do I really have to access the upper A-arm bolts from the engine compartment - or can I get access from below?

I appreciate the input...

well unless you can get your body into positions that most only dream about then yes from the engine compartment only, easy really, pull the air box and you can see the bolts down there, left side you can see but just a little harder to get to. rear bolt on the left side you have to use extensions/swivel to get to the bolt going in from the front

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:48 pm

Thanks Tom - as I found out the last two lift installs (1st RRO spacer, second Rusty's :oops:

removal of the battery tray an air box took more time than the lift install :oops:

- however from your previous input I purchased a long extension and swivel sockets. Thanks for the input...

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:08 am

JeepinMaxx wrote:

Thanks Tom - as I found out the last two lift installs (1st RRO spacer, second Rusty's :oops:

removal of the battery tray an air box took more time than the lift install :oops:

- however from your previous input I purchased a long extension and swivel sockets. Thanks for the input...

yes taking the above two mentioned things out takes forever, when I have someone helping me do a lift I make them take all that stuff out topside, I can have everything unbolted down below by the time they get that much done :lol:

Good luck on Saturday!

I need new Upper Ball Joints

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