Got Moogs? CHECK THEM ASAP!

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:36 pm

Now what right?! Well, I went to move some tires around and as soon as I jacked up the driver side control arm I was greeted w/ this:

Yep, the ball joint seperated from the knuckle assy. Isn't that just great?!

The serations that you can see and the gap between the knuckle and ball joint shouldn't be there and the top of the bj shouldn't be hitting the axle. These Moogs have only been in for about 5,000 miles and now I am at a loss for WTF to do now?! I am hoping the knuckle, where the bj sits isn't messed up so that I can Maybe get another bj pressed in there otherwise I guess I need a new knuckle?!

2 weeks to Moab and my patience is really wearing thin.

To check yours, place a jack under the lower control arm close to the tire and jack it up. It might take a couple times to get it to move if it is loose so try it more than once. You should also follow the normal BJ checking procedure of placing a lever of some sorts (2x4 piece of wood, strong piece of steel, etc) under the tire and lift up on it to see if you can unseat the BJ or see any movement in the BJ. Good luck!

raceinfan · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:54 pm

not good

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:59 pm

I've been checking mine with every oil change,so far so good.Did you put them in yourself or did a shop put them in? Maybe they got put in at a slight slant or used grease on the install(to make them go in easier),should never use grease in installing something like that.Maybe the bottom of the knucle has a small stress crack allowing the ball joint to pop out like that.Heck it could be a number of things,hope it's a easy and not costly fix JJ.Dang you now you got me worried and I have to go check mine in the rain :evil:

!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:04 pm

I would think about taking it in and letting them perform the recall on it JJ if it turns out there is something wrong with the knuckle. That way you wouldnt need to worry about getting them fixed for Moab..

Ive heard Rob over at Jeepforum say that he has had to replace the knuckle b/c of that exact problem. He said the balljoints would fall right back out after he pressed them in.. He works for a Jeep dealership.

Who put them in? Maybe they were not pressed in all the way. If you put them in, Im sure you pressed them all the way though.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:15 pm

They were installed into the knuckle by Pep Boys and I did all the R&R on them. They looked fine up until now so I have no idea WTH happened. I think I am going to go weld a couple beads on them to hold them over until I figure this out.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:32 pm

Major issue here, please keep us posted. I have done both recalls and have the OEM ball joinst and thinking of getting Moogs.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

That is weird. I have about 15k on mine and not one problem. Weird how that happened, because with the weight of the vechile sitting on the wheel it should pull the ball joint into the knuckle.

All I know was that mine where as tight as heck to press out and just as tight going in. Maybe pep-boys decided to grease them so they would slide in easier, still that shouldn't matter.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:12 pm

Well, the KJ is sitting at PB's waiting for them to check it out. I have a feeling they are going to balk at this though since all they did was install the BJ's into the knuckle. I won't be able to tell if they lubed them during install unless I take them apart myself and that is still a possibility if they decide they can't/won't do anything about it. I also have another set of BJ's coming this afternoon just in case. UGH! I am starting to feel a SFA swap in my future again, I don't know how much longer I can stand having to worry about ball joints and diff failures, etc.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:38 pm

Yeah iam not sue if it is worth all the headaches either, a 07' rubicon would fix the problem but then again i would have to fix my marriage! :oops:

Mango~Ridge · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:44 pm

So how many other times have you all heard of this happening, just these two times? Seems like either you have a defective knuckle or a bad moog....I hope it's not a widespread thing.

Edit: I hope the repair goes your way JJ!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:35 pm

Mango~Ridge wrote:

So how many other times have you all heard of this happening, just these two times? Seems like either you have a defective knuckle or a bad moog....I hope it's not a widespread thing.

Edit: I hope the repair goes your way JJ!

I do not believe its a widespread thing by all means. WAY to many of the LOST members are running the moogs and this has never happened.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:39 pm

OK you made me go out in the cold garage and check , but mine are fine, right side has been in about 21,000 miles left side 2000 and all OK. Wonder if it was a little missized from the get go or something

tom

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:41 pm

OK you made me go out in the cold garage and check , but mine are fine, right side has been in about 21,000 miles left side 2000 and all OK. Wonder if it was a little missized from the get go or something

tom

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:55 pm

Any way you can blame the other driver John? :wink:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:11 pm

OK how did I double post? ?????

Blaming the "other driver" may work for ...well about as long as it takes him to get into the house and say it, then run like heck back out to the garage! :lol:

Of course he may have to sleep in the garage!

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:35 pm

I would never blame the other driver when she is on-board for SFA-ing HER KJ in the near future. :shock:

I have a real good feeling that I will be persuing another SFA project after Moab.

We really love this KJ and it is so freaking loaded that there is no way we will ever get our money out of it by trading it or trying to sell it so we might as well make it even better and do the SFA.

As for fixing this short term, I got it back from PB's and they just want to charge me more money to figureout what I already know is wrong w/ it. Since they are not goign to take responsibility for messing up the install and I would have a real tough time proving it, I will be spending tomorrow swapping suspensions again...... UGH!

I will take the original knuckle assy's from the 04 off of my 03 and put the 04 back to original bj's and then I have an appointment to get the recall done on the 16th :shock:

!! That was the earliest date they could give me and they had to backorder the new bj's. :roll:

So, hopefully, w/ some luck, I will be ready to boogie down the road to Moab in my 04 KJ come the 19th. As a back up plan, I will be getting some stuff done on the Xj just in case we need to take it instead.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! :lol:

BTW, I am doubting that this is a commom problem but I wanted to make sure everyone knows to keep an eye on the Moogs just in case. :wink:

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:48 pm

Well, PB hosed me up about 20 years ago and I've never been back.

Hey JJ come up and put in my Teralow and ball joints and take my TJ to Moab. :roll:

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:51 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

Well, the KJ is sitting at PB's waiting for them to check it out. I have a feeling they are going to balk at this though since all they did was install the BJ's into the knuckle. I won't be able to tell if they lubed them during install unless I take them apart myself and that is still a possibility if they decide they can't/won't do anything about it. I also have another set of BJ's coming this afternoon just in case. UGH! I am starting to feel a SFA swap in my future again, I don't know how much longer I can stand having to worry about ball joints and diff failures, etc.

Pep Boys........I think the key word here is "Boys".I know your all probably thinking....Anybody with an OTT lift can't be too smart....but atleast here me out.First and formost John,I'm not sure if PB's employees have a great track record of hiring Tech's with good credentials(Training).I can just here them now "Man these things won't go in." "Well maybe if I clean the bore with some sandpaper or grease them up a little." ....I've pressed in plenty of balljoints,and I got to tell you,I've been tempted.But bottom line is either one of these aids are a big no no.You've got to PRESS them in with as much force as you would expect them to hold.That's just facts.........And JJ,despite you installing the assembly after they pressed the balljoint,has no bearing as to why their work failed.Think about it.The two parts that seperated,they installed.I feel your frustration,but I don't think I would aim it at the Libby just yet.Ask PB's why they came apart and let's let them give you a logical explenation. :idea:

By the way,I do look at mine quite often as I have daily access to a lift,and as of yesterday,they have'nt moved a fraction.Sorry about the long post,but it also frustrates me too when someone can't do safe work.Hope it all works out in your favor.

Ron

Kniggit · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:59 pm

I pressed the new Ball Joints into my work truck, a 96 Chevy, and it was a similar setup. The Moogs came with a Locking compound (off brand lock-tite). Maybe they lost/forgot/didn't come with this. Did you look in the hardware package for this?

K

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:22 am

The Moogs didn't come w/ any locking compound and I have a new set sitting in the garage that don't have any either.
I am very familiar w/ installing ball joints and I have rebuilt the front suspensions of several vehicles. The KJ knuckles require a special tool set that works on the inside of the knuckle allowing the press to pull the ball joint down into the knuckle. I have a hydraulic press and also a ball joint press set too but it doesn't have a combo of tools that would work, trust me, I tried on two different KJ's before giving up and taking it to PB's which was the only place open on the weekend that said they would/could do it that day. (nice run on) The 1st set I did was on Ed V's KJ and so far, so good on his.
As for PB's, I am too familiar w/ their reputation as I worked a part time gig there while attending an automotive mechanics school. I eventually HAD to quit as I couldn't believe the crap I was seeing there daily. They had me doing return work that their day crew had messed up on and these were "mechanics" that had worked there for a while. :roll:

It would have made for a good Dateline episode.
Anyhow, I will be looking very carefully at that side when I remove it to see If I can see any signs of them lubricating the BJ for install (the passenger side didn't show any signs of it). If it turns out that is what they did, i will definately let them know how they screwed it up and persue at least getting my money back for the job they did.

I hope this is an isolated incident and nobody else has to go through this BS. Good luck.

Got Moogs? CHECK THEM ASAP!

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