CRD lower ball joint life, what did you get or got?

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 6:30 pm

Since the CRD weighs ~500# more than the 3.7L and puts more stress on the front end, I thought I would list a question here. My lower ball joints were replaced at 25K under recall and I now have 73K with no shortage of pot holes and other road hazards either.
After hearing all the problems with Liberty CRD lower ball joints, I expected to have to replace them and using my 20% off Harbor Freight coupon bought the 4X4 Ball joint tool. When I checked per the FSM procedure using a dial indicator, plus procedures used by other manufactures I could remember, all of the tests showed that I had 0.000" of play, NONE.
Did some of the Mopar replacement ball joints come from Moog instead of Ducka Wucka Foo?
Is there any way to tell if Moog supplied Chrysler my ball joints?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:04 pm

The OE ball joints are made by MOOG per Chrysler specs.

europachris · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:05 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

The OE ball joints are made by MOOG per Chrysler specs.

And that there is your problem. MOOG can make great parts. MOOG can also make junk if that is what it is directed to do. Or, the other way around, Chrysler went to MOOG and said "We will pay $X.XX for this part and buy X,XXX,XXX per year." MOOG sees big volume numbers but is thinking "How can we build a ball joint for $.05?" So, they cut corners and cut costs until they make the part for the target cost and durability is such that it JUST makes it out of warranty.

Well, obviously the testing doesn't always cover real world conditions so you end up with parts failing frequently and well before they should. And on stuff like brakes and suspension, that is not an area to cut costs to the bone - people can get killed that way.

bugnout · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:21 am

Had mine replaced under recall at about 25k as well. I had both left and right lowers replaced with Moog greasable ball joints at 100k when I had the LF unit bearing replaced. Both ball joints were in spec when they were replaced.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:32 pm

originals replaced under recall at ~30K (they were not worn)
every oil change - I rotate tires and check ball joints - they're fine at 94K

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:43 pm

europachris wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

The OE ball joints are made by MOOG per Chrysler specs.

And that there is your problem. MOOG can make great parts. MOOG can also make junk if that is what it is directed to do. Or, the other way around, Chrysler went to MOOG and said "We will pay $X.XX for this part and buy X,XXX,XXX per year." MOOG sees big volume numbers but is thinking "How can we build a ball joint for $.05?" So, they cut corners and cut costs until they make the part for the target cost and durability is such that it JUST makes it out of warranty.

Well, obviously the testing doesn't always cover real world conditions so you end up with parts failing frequently and well before they should. And on stuff like brakes and suspension, that is not an area to cut costs to the bone - people can get killed that way.

Seems a little like the OE Goodyears. Worst tires I've ever owned. Goodyear probably makes a decent tire for this rig, but I will never know.

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:45 pm

My LBJ's were replaced under warranty whenever the recall occurred.

Should I replace them when I have my lift done for any reason?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:18 am

First of all, according to official published materials, the CRD is only 300 lbs. heavier than the 3.7L models, and a lot of that is in the tcase and transmission...so the front end is probably only <200 lbs. heavier than a gas model. The extra weight of the CRD is exaggerated a LOT on the forums.

Second, most CRDs were included in the ball joint recall years ago...and so they got the joints replaced whether they needed to or not. I think this will skew the results of this poll. Mine had the joints replaced at around 30,000 miles...but I don't know if it needed to or not, and now I'm at 100,000 miles with zero issues. So I don't think you can say the ball joints are problematic based upon that at all.

flman · **Posted:** Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:25 am

I would think they newer ones would have been better then the OE, maybe good enough to make it through the warranty, so mine are 2 years past due?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:24 pm

Mine are still original, I have an ARB bumper with winch up front and I actually go offroad with my rig.

mdalien · **Joined:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:22 pm **Posts:** 41

Replaced under recall @ 51600 now at 208600 with no issues

CRD lower ball joint life, what did you get or got?

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