Control Arm and Ball Joint choices

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

I have torn boot covers and clunking noises in my unlifted 2005 KJ 4x4 renegade with 90k miles.
I got the Jeepin by Al jba UCA kit. I think I need to get the lower (and upper?) ball joints too.
The dealer said they replaced the LBJ under the F23 recall in 2007.

What's the difference between JBA's $395 upper control arms and for example the autozone Duralast one that includes the (upper or lower?) ball joint at $80/side?

http://www.autozone.com/suspension-stee ... _0_171486/

Anyone care to offer an estimate on what a shop might charge to install them?
And recommendations for shops near NW Houston, TX?

Jeepin'WNC · **Joined:** Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:48 am **Posts:** 191

The ball joint on the Duralast control arm is cast (?) in place as part of the arm, and is non replaceable without changing the entire arm, and is non-greaseable...The JBA arm has a heavy duty greaseable ball joint that is replaceable, without replacing the entire arm...If I recall correctly, the ball joint on the JBA upper arm is the factory replacement for a late '70's - mid 80's half ton Chevrolet...It WAS a Dana/Spicer part, but Dana/Spicer has sold that specific design to NAPA, and it's now available as part of their Napa Chassis Parts line... I don't know about a price to swap them out; there not very hard to change....

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

Cost to replace the joint on the JBA is 25-35 bucks.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:43 am

With those kind of miles...I would closely check your rear control arm. The clunking could be because it is trashed. It is the boomerang looking piece that comes off your rear diff and attaches at each end of your rear axle.

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

Thanks. I drove the KJ up some ramps today, checked the back wheels and looked under it. The rear control arm "looks ok."

I saw the boots on the upper and lower front ball joints are torn. Do the MOOG lower ball joints fit in the stock front lower control arms?

Arkie · **Posted:** Sat Jun 20, 2015 6:34 pm

". Do the MOOG lower ball joints fit in the stock front lower control arms?"

Yes.

Bob

sooty · **Joined:** Fri Jun 05, 2015 4:33 am **Posts:** 10

Yes straight swap for the moog but they need to be pressed out/in.

couple of hours work at a shop to have lbj and JBA upper arms fitted

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

Do you guys recommend the Moog K3199 or the K80767 Lower Ball Joints?

What did Jeepin By Al have, although they are out of stock now?

Different web sites show one or the other as the right fit for my 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade V6 gas 4x4.
This one http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/_pdf_En/MOOG_PS_Bulletin_27010_K3199_En.pdf shows the K3199 for 2002-2005 but their parts searcher shows the K3199 for 2002-2004 and the 80767 for 2005+. The http://www.moogproducts.com/en-global/Pages/ecatalogue.aspx?VehicleSearch/en/Moog/pc# seems to also recommend the K3199 for the internationally named 2005 "Cherokee" while some of the auto parts web sites list the 80767. Partsgeek and some others show the K3199 for 2002-2004 KJ Liberties and the K80767 for 2005-2007.

Thanks,

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

Well, I received my Jeepin By Al non-lifted Upper Control Arms and Moog Lower Ball Joints for my 04 4x4 KJ Renegade and had them installed. The shop didn't see bad or worn tie rod ends or anything else.

The shop was not able to get the camber and caster in spec with them, and they reported and I see it now pulls to the right.

They speculated that the after-market upper control arms may prevent the alignment from getting in spec. They said that they controlled for the camber to avoid tire wear issues but it then pulled to the right.

Has anybody else installed the Jeepin By Al non-lifted Upper Control Arms and had a similar issue, or installed them and had no alignment problems?

At the moment, I am regretting getting and paying the premium $ for those UCAs.... The labor cost was so high, that I think I should have had the shop provide them and then they would be responsible for the whole thing.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

I run the K80767 on all of my KJs, 02, 04, 06. The k3199 sometimes has a grease zert, sometimes not. The K80767 always has it.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

Also you alignment guys dont know what they are doing......find another shop.

Tell them to set the camber and let the caster fall where it lands.

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

Hi Kayak,

Thanks for the feedback and your experience with the 80767. Do you also use the unlifted JbA UCAs?
I'll scan and post the alignment sheet after I confirm that's what they set it to.

They said they set the camber to spec but it put the caster out of spec. Now, it pulls very noticeably to the right. I don't think it did before, although as a jeep and with the previous Joints and UCA the steering was not great.

I got the 80767 since that seemed the more appropriate choice and the shop confirmed that was their choice too.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

It shouldn't pull at all. They dont know what they are doing at all.

My KJs have 4"+ lift, so I have the JBA lifted arms. But my stock 04 has Moog arms, they were already under lifetime warranty thru the PO (close family member) so it transferred over at my local autoparts store. I dont have plans to lift the 04.....well it might get rockwells, havent decided on the 06 or 04.

Seriously, look up "can-do front end" in baytown, tell them the "lifted Liberty guy" sent ya. They will hook ya up

On a side note. When the UBJ on my stock 04 started to go bad, i took it to a buddies shop and I installed my spare JBA lifted arms on it (local parts store wouldnt have the moogs upper arms for a few days). Can-do got it aligned perfectly. My wifes cousin drove it to Florida and back, no problem, replaced the JBA lifted arms back with new Moogs.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2015 6:31 pm

David,

How did you come out on your alignment problems?

davidg91 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:01 pm **Posts:** 33

Hi Tomas,

My KJ still has the alignment issue.
I haven't taken it back to that place or to another place to try another alignment.
If I let the steering wheel move freely, it quickly goes to the right.
I don't have to hold it tight to keep it in line but it's still kind of annoying.

They "said" they adjusted it the best they could to avoid excess or uneven tire wear.
The next time I take it there, I'll ask them to check/try again, but I don't have high hopes, whether it's the shop, the JbA UCAs, or something else in the suspension causing the problem.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

Is your cradle lined up right?

tomasnc · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:31 am

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

Is your cradle lined up right?

How about explaining "cradle". My alignment guy said my car pulled. When driving it home on the interstate last night it handled fine.

I am waiting to hear from Marlin on his advice :juggle:

Tom

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

tomasnc wrote:

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

Is your cradle lined up right?

How about explaining "cradle". My alignment guy said my car pulled. When driving it home on the interstate last night it handled fine.

I am waiting to hear from Marlin on his advice :juggle:

Tom

The cradle is the black metal subframe that your engine, suspension and front diff bolts to. If its a 1/4" off it will cause it to pull

tomasnc · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:14 pm

I came in on the back-end of this alignment.

He showed me the cam bolts on the front and rear of the LCA's. These are what are maxed out according to him.
His comment was that one wheel was out 5" and the other side was 2". These numbers seem very odd but the tires wore out like mad in a very short time !!! I was due a new set so I didn't pay any notice to how they were wearing.
I did ask if the specs for the CRD versus gas were the same and his answer was "the same.

Checking the cradle makes excellent sense. Is this something most alignment guys are knowledgeable about?

Thanks,

Tom

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:43 pm

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

tomasnc wrote:

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

Is your cradle lined up right?

How about explaining "cradle". My alignment guy said my car pulled. When driving it home on the interstate last night it handled fine.

I am waiting to hear from Marlin on his advice :juggle:

Tom

The cradle is the black metal subframe that your engine, suspension and front diff bolts to. If its a 1/4" off it will cause it to pull

How common is it for the cradle to be out of alighnment?
Seems like something that would only happen if you had removed and re installed it for some reason.

Control Arm and Ball Joint choices

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