An old fitment trick my Uncle taught me. Put the BJs in the freezer for a while before trying to press them in.

That is also a good way to get bushings in too. I use that trick when doing control arm bushings. Just drop the bushings in the freezer the night before doing the work and they usually go in a little easier.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

What's interesting is they popped out in the opposite direction of the forces applied on that BJ. The forces on that BJ are normally pulling it "apart" down into the LCA, not up into the knuckle.

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The only place worth posting Husky mats and tow hooks mods.

Yes but not when you jack up under the lower control arm. Then the knuckle pushes down away from the bj. The only thing keeping it from seperating further is the top of the bj hits the axle.

BTW, Once I got them apart i pulled the ball joint right out w/ very little effort at all but there still is no sign of lube or any real problems w/ where the bj seats. I'm at a loss.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

I checked mine and they are good.

What kind of shape is the ball joint in? Did it get damaged?

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Take the road less traveled.

Wait, so that popped out from you jacking it? I thought you just noticed it while rotating tires. When you jack from the LCA, do you put the jack under LBJ nut? I never do that even though if you did, you would think the BJ nut would hold the the BJ stem snug enough to not alow it to push up like yours did, instead of the axle being what kept it in? Is it separated in the picture because the nut is still there?

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The only place worth posting Husky mats and tow hooks mods.

The jack never touched the bj nut. If you look at the pic, you can see the knuckle fell DOWN off the ball joint. once the weight is off the tire, the connection between the bj and knuckle is all that is suporting the weight of the tire, wheel, axle, etc. so the knuckle actually falls down the bj. You really have to love this feat of engineering that DC came up with. Really lame.


BTW, The ball joint never actually moves in the knuckle, it is the knuckle that moves on the bj. If the axle wasn't there, the knuckle would fall all the way down the bj and land on the lower control arm. Nice huh?!

Ed, Glad to hear yours look good, keep an eye on them.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

If you let the jack back down did the joint go back into the knuckle? Or stay popped out?

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Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
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Yes, when you put the weight of the vehicle back on the suspension, the ball joint is forced back into the knuckle. I don't think it is going to be a huge problem while I drive a few miles to and from work unless it starts to spin inside the knuckle. I am hoping to have another set of knuckles in a few days and I will try putting another set of Moogs in them and try again.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal