Upper Ball joint HELP!!!!Please!!!

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:42 pm

Okay,

I stand SOMEWHAT partialy corrected. I too have had the discussion about the uppers. And in that discussion we determined that they had to be replaceable. We also determined, through no scientific process, that they are MOST likely the same ball joint as the lowers.

The NAPA dudes I work with determined that they are replaceable and that the lower ones got all the "Press" and thus have the new part listing. They surrmised without actually trying, that it is the same ball joint in the uppers, just not put under the same stresses the lowers are and thus not needing to be replaced, as often.

BUT they did tell me that ALL ball joints can be pulled and replaced with the right equipment. NOW like i mentioned before it might well be cheaper to replace the whole arm and there might well be a "Core" charge or exchange for these in the future. at $132.00 and shipping per upper arm it might also be better to replace the whole thing (and Both of them).

What the Hell, pull them both out take them to a napa, ask them to TRY pulling them and replacing them with the same ones listed for the lowers. IF it does not work you have lost nothing except maybe a little labor charge.

If it doesn't work, order a pair of stock ones from the link i posted before and replace them both for 264.00 and get back on the road. Either way you win. You will answer the big question, but either way you need a new ball joint IF those threads can't be revived.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:57 pm

Deleted

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:38 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

Okay,

I stand SOMEWHAT partialy corrected. I too have had the discussion about the uppers. And in that discussion we determined that they had to be replaceable. We also determined, through no scientific process, that they are MOST likely the same ball joint as the lowers.

The NAPA dudes I work with determined that they are replaceable and that the lower ones got all the "Press" and thus have the new part listing. They surrmised without actually trying, that it is the same ball joint in the uppers, just not put under the same stresses the lowers are and thus not needing to be replaced, as often.

BUT they did tell me that ALL ball joints can be pulled and replaced with the right equipment. NOW like i mentioned before it might well be cheaper to replace the whole arm and there might well be a "Core" charge or exchange for these in the future. at $132.00 and shipping per upper arm it might also be better to replace the whole thing (and Both of them).

What the Hell, pull them both out take them to a napa, ask them to TRY pulling them and replacing them with the same ones listed for the lowers. IF it does not work you have lost nothing except maybe a little labor charge.

If it doesn't work, order a pair of stock ones from the link i posted before and replace them both for 264.00 and get back on the road. Either way you win. You will answer the big question, but either way you need a new ball joint IF those threads can't be revived.

You can not replace the UBJ alone,it is part of the UCA and is made as one non-rebuildable unit(you can't even get the boot alone,must buy the whole arm).You must replace the whole UCA to replace the UBJ.There is no core charge for the OEM UCA since they are non-serviceable.That stands for the OEM only,the JBA UCA's have replaceable UBJ's,the only one's made for the KJ that you can just replace the balljoint seperatly from the arm.

On the OEM UCA's there is a hex stud on the bottom of the balljoint stud,place a 10mm wrench or socket and hold the stud while using a wrench to take the balljoint nut off.

Oh and I have a brand new UCA for a KJ,never mounted or used, PM me if interested.

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:23 pm

JHCRASH wrote:

Dje Ryu wrote:

JHCRASH wrote:

The ones rockyroad sells are just factory arms and joints.

They aren't even that! They don't have them, can't get them, Can't ship them. BUT, they WILL charge you for them if you order and you'll never see that money again! DO NOT BUY UCA's FROM ROCKY-ROAD!!!

Is this what glen owes you money for?

yes

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:07 am

First of all thanks everyone for the help and advice. I have been under the weather so sorry it took me so long to reply back on this. and to make my situation more clear the 10mm stud is what is striped and for some odd reason the nut on its is really hard to turn. Ive tried Pb to get it loose but with no luck and mow the whole thing spins. If I get new a arms I guess ill have to cut the old one off. I am trying to save enough money to get al's because I know I need them and had planned to get them in the future so I hate to buy a stock one when I could put that money towards the ones I need. I also tried to weld a nut on the bottom so I could tighten it back up till I could get a new one but since I just have a small AC welder I couldn’t get a strong enough weld. Sure wish I had a TIG welder.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:33 pm

dloc_jeep_KJ wrote:

Ok so while working on my kj with a buddy he striped my ball joint and bad too.. So now I can’t tighten or loosen it at all. Any suggestions?? I’m about to cut the thing off and get new a arms all together or swap the ball joint. How hard is this to swap out?? I have a new born so I don’t have the cash right now to get Al’s but has anyone heard anything about rusty’s? whats the price on them? Please help this is my dd and I have till Jan 14th to get this fixed so I can go back to college.

Have you tried rethreading it with a tap and die?

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:19 am

Have you tried rethreading it with a tap and die?[/quote]

I cant re thread it the nut is stuck on it and it’s not the treads that are messed up it’s the 10mm stud on the end. I can’t keep it from spinning when I try to lessen it or tightening. Thanks for the thought though.

JHCRASH · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:43 am

Dje Ryu wrote:

JHCRASH wrote:

Dje Ryu wrote:

JHCRASH wrote:

The ones rockyroad sells are just factory arms and joints.

They aren't even that! They don't have them, can't get them, Can't ship them. BUT, they WILL charge you for them if you order and you'll never see that money again! DO NOT BUY UCA's FROM ROCKY-ROAD!!!

Is this what glen owes you money for?

yes

Well thats lame he wont give your money back.

wildrussian · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:33 am

Quote:

I cant re thread it the nut is stuck on it and it’s not the treads that are messed up it’s the 10mm stud on the end. I can’t keep it from spinning when I try to lessen it or tightening. Thanks for the thought though.

You need to try an air wrench, I think you might be able to take it off with the air wrench. Also drop the whole assembly down a little to put more pressure on the the nut so the whole stud will not spin.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:35 pm

just cut the nut off with a splitter and put a new one back on, make sure you clean up the threads before you do but it will be fine. No big deal at all.

Tom

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:39 pm

The nut or stud may be stripped where the nut is holding, and not appear stripped anywhere else on the exposed part of the stud. It could be spinning because it can't go anywhere on the threads. Happened with one of my LBJs once, had to find a cut-off wheel.
I'd say cut if off now...whatever you'll have to clamp onto the stud to keep it from spinning will damage the threads and you'll end up cutting the stud anyways. A single arm is cheap, and I have yet to see a OEM replacement that didn't appear identical to stock.
But in the long run, Al's arms are the way to go. They already payed for themselves when I broke a balljoint (long, horrendous story) and all I had to do was buy the ~$30 UBJ replacement from JBA.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:52 pm

Youne got to hold the bottom of the joint with a wrench while you tighten the nut.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:49 pm

He already said that the 10mm bottom of the balljoint stud was what stripped and prevented him from stopping the spin. I'm just throwing it out there that he might not be moving the nut because it could be stripped where its at on the stud.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:56 pm

give me a crow bar, vice grips , a wrench and 5 minutes :twisted:

and it will be off....one way or the other. But I would still just cut the nut off if all else fails and rethread

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:52 pm

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

He already said that the 10mm bottom of the balljoint stud was what stripped and prevented him from stopping the spin. I'm just throwing it out there that he might not be moving the nut because it could be stripped where its at on the stud.

My bad.

Do what tommudd would do and use some vice grips.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:39 pm

Vice grips will work if you don't damage the threads. Maybe a thick cloth over the stud might help this. If you see you've damaged the threads at any point, just get the cut-off wheel already. And I would definitely suggest an air-powered cut-off wheel. The stud and nut are hardened, and a Sawzall will barely make a mark.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:44 pm

They make a tool that will split the nut also, I have a set that works great doesnt hurt the bolt at all most times if you are careful. I would never try a Sawzall thats like putting roof shingles on with a 3 lb. sledge hammer :wink:

LostRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:02 pm

dloc_jeep_KJ wrote:

Ok so while working on my kj with a buddy he striped my ball joint and bad too.. So now I can’t tighten or loosen it at all. Any suggestions?? I’m about to cut the thing off and get new a arms all together or swap the ball joint. How hard is this to swap out?? I have a new born so I don’t have the cash right now to get Al’s but has anyone heard anything about rusty’s? whats the price on them? Please help this is my dd and I have till Jan 14th to get this fixed so I can go back to college.

I have seen this happen before. Pinch the control arm tight against the ball joint to keep if from turning on you. If you cut the ball joint, the uppder control arm will have to be replaced.

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:34 am

Ok thanks for all the help guys but I just ordered a new A arm all together this afternoon and I did try air tools with no success the day after it happened. Since this is my DD and my better half got real tired of me driving here corolla S, I broke down and just bought an OEM one with a lifetime warranty. I do plan to get Al’s at some point in time but I really need some Mts first.

Upper Ball joint HELP!!!!Please!!!

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