Lift and Ball joints

LRwrnglr · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:15 am

After reading some about lifts I saw where the strut spacer kit is going to be hard on the ball joints, but is that if you wheel regularly? Because I'll only be on the trails and hills like 3 or 4 times a year. But the question I have is, will the Rusty's full suspension be hard on the joints also? And since I wheel only a couple times a year could I buy a strut spacer kit and not have to worry about the ball joints? This is running just stock ATs on the street and while wheeling running MTs. Thanks, I've read a lot about it but I just want to get everything straight as I am a new KJ owner. Thanks

LR

sqliberty · **Joined:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:08 pm **Posts:** 207

I have an 02 with the ROCKFATHER II lift with 83k miles and I did have to replace the upper Control Arm/Ball Joints. I think most of the wear wat due to my old crappy Rocky road OTT/ budget lift that had the spacers though. The dealership said it was due to the lift and I have not had it off road at all.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:17 am

Strut Spacer (Inside the strut...not OTT) or Springs are not the problem with Ball Joints...it basically is affected MOST by the amount of lift increase and weight of the tire/wheel combination.

The Lower Ball Joint angle after lift is more "severe" as is the CVJoint angle. The extra weight of larger tires and heavy rims puts a strain on the UBJ/LBJ and the Steering Rack. The Upper Ball Joint contact with the Strut Assembly is also an issue,

LRwrnglr · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:15 pm

Will I notice any real differences between a Strut spacer and a suspension lift due to the fact that I won't wheel a lot? I'm kinda leaning towards the Rusty's strut spacer kit because I won't wheel that often and I will run stock wheels and tires. Any input is appreciated.

LR

Mutt · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:49 am

Apparently, the lifts (or bigger tires) are harder on the tie-rod ends. Ten thousand miles since lift and both sides are worn beyond service.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:21 pm

LRwrnglr wrote:

Will I notice any real differences between a Strut spacer and a suspension lift due to the fact that I won't wheel a lot? I'm kinda leaning towards the Rusty's strut spacer kit because I won't wheel that often and I will run stock wheels and tires. Any input is appreciated.

LR

Some people have had the OTT style spacers in as little as six weeks, and as long as a year before they ruined the front struts and upper ball joints with little off-roading.

Yeah, they thought they could get by cheap, then had to remove it, and upgraded to a coil lift.

Be wise, spend a little more and do it right the first time! You'll end up saving money in the long run.

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

You would be happy with the Daystar full spacer kit, it won't harm anything.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:27 pm

Mutt wrote:

Apparently, the lifts (or bigger tires) are harder on the tie-rod ends. Ten thousand miles since lift and both sides are worn beyond service.

I'm sure it couldn't have anything to do with the rocks. Right? :roll:

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:34 pm

TDI4BY wrote:

You would be happy with the Daystar full spacer kit, it won't harm anything.

After you add the price of extended rear shocks to any spacer lift kit, you may as well spend a little more and get a Rusty's coil lift kit and be done with it.
Do the math!

Mutt · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:07 pm

KJ04 wrote:

Mutt wrote:

Apparently, the lifts (or bigger tires) are harder on the tie-rod ends. Ten thousand miles since lift and both sides are worn beyond service.

I'm sure it couldn't have anything to do with the rocks. Right? :roll:

It's only regularly driven to the mall, I beg your pardon.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:07 pm

Rusty's Coil Lift installed Jan 05......33K on it, big rocks in the Colorado Rockies, LOST Moab rock crawlin' twice, no issues with anything on my KJ....

Of course, I have now jinxed myself and will suffer some catastrophic breakdown in the next few weeks because of this.

HIKJ · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:43 pm

I 've had to have both lower and upper ball joints replaced at 30.000 kms (20.000 miles). Have been running a 2.5" Skyjacker coil lift (so not only spacer lifts are involved). I do not practice offroading, but spent time on rocky tracks in Iceland and Morocco (some 1500 miles).
So I cannot say with certainty whether the lift is causing extra wear.
I believe we are just owners of rather fragile automobiles.

I have recently changed to an OME/King Spring lift. The OME struts are shorter than Skyjackers, hoping they will pose less stress on the upper ball joints.
But of course at the sacrifice of less down travel of the front wheels.

Lift and Ball joints

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