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Rear Ball Joint Failure
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53793		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  MojaveKJ [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Rear Ball Joint Failure
Well it seems my rear ball joint has failed again, after less than 4 months and 5,000 miles and I am wondering why. I have the basic OME lift with stock top plates and single isolators in back, 2 conduit nut clevis lift.

Anyone know why? Is it just to be expected with the lift? I wouldn't think so but I'm no expert. The tri-link I have on the rear end now was purchased from Jeep and installed as one unit on March 12th. :banghead:

Help a fellow Jeeper out here... I'd like to fix this on a more permanent basis. :JEEPIN:

Thanks,
MojaveKJ
Author:  tommudd [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
All of the ones I have seen go bad had 100,000 miles or more on them.
Your lift doesn't seem as high as most so not sure. With only OMEs and no extra isolator's should not be a problem. Mine was starting to go at about 137,000 but that was lifted for over 100,000 miles ( with two extra rear iso's )

Did you install it? Did you check it after a couple of hundred miles to make sure it was still tight?
Author:  InCommando [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
Some one much smarter than I (cough 96xj cough cough) suggested loosening the ball joint during the lift install and then tightening it back after it is back on the ground. Also, JBA makes a nifty little correction bracket for the wishbone for about $50.
Author:  tommudd [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
cough,......cough :wink:
Only one way for the Tri link ball joint to fit in, no reason to loosen it up when lifting. It has a bolt that goes through it so don't see anyway for that to help :juggle:

The nifty little bracket is for higher lifts than just OME springs by themselves, plus i have one hanging up here and well there is a reason it's still hanging there :POPCORN:

If I remember right :wink: 1996XJ was talking about the rear lower control arms
Author:  MojaveKJ [ Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
tommudd wrote:
cough,......cough :wink:
Only one way for the Tri link ball joint to fit in, no reason to loosen it up when lifting. It has a bolt that goes through it so don't see anyway for that to help :juggle:

The nifty little bracket is for higher lifts than just OME springs by themselves, plus i have one hanging up here and well there is a reason it's still hanging there :POPCORN:

If I remember right :wink: 1996XJ was talking about the rear lower control arms


Thanks for the replies tommudd and InCommando.

I installed the boomerang (tri-link) myself as I felt it was something I could do with my tools in my driveway and seemed like a fairly easy swap...both times. I did notice that the shaft of the ball joint was keyed so that it can only be inserted the right amount if the bolt is going to be able to go through. I had the KJ up on stands and used a floor jack to lift the diff up and seat the shaft of the ball joint into the 'clamp' on the top of the diff then tightened everything back up before lowering the Jeep back to the ground.

Did I do this wrong? It is entirely possible as I am not mechanic, just a parts swapper. I did read up as much as I could on here and in the DC manuals before doing the job. I'd like to figure out the cause before I do the fix for the third time in a year.

If you guys have, or anyone else has, any additional info it would be greatly appreciated.
Author:  ShafferNY [ Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
I don't think there is anything you did wrong. I think it's purely coincidence that it went bad so soon.

Think about it logically. The whole rear axle is made to move up and down, from the bump stops to full droop. As long as the ball joint stud is fully seated in the ball joint socket, you should be good to go. It shouldn't matter if the axle is tucked all the way up in the vehicle or at full droop.
Author:  MojaveKJ [ Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rear Ball Joint Failure
ShafferNY wrote:
I don't think there is anything you did wrong. I think it's purely coincidence that it went bad so soon.

Think about it logically. The whole rear axle is made to move up and down, from the bump stops to full droop. As long as the ball joint stud is fully seated in the ball joint socket, you should be good to go. It shouldn't matter if the axle is tucked all the way up in the vehicle or at full droop.


I am thinking along the same lines, mostly because I don't think my KJ is drastically different than most lifted IFS KJs out there whose RBJs have lasted for thousands of 'lifted' miles, ala tummudd's post above.

Will order the parts soon and do the job again I suppose. Love the Jeep too much to get rid of it.

Thank you ShafferNY for your words.
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