new factory ball joints vs. moog's

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:27 am

Ok, so my ball joints are needing repairing. What do you all think about getting free factory ones or paying for moogs and paying to have them installed? I am starting to lean to paying for the moogs but the real question is how much does it cost to get them installed? Has anyone gotten their moog's installed by a local shop? How much?

Thanks,

-Nick

PS, i know i could probably do them myself but i really dont have the time right now and to me its a big safety issue, so i would just like to stick with the pro's here...

RFCRD · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:49 am

The labor and alignment will probably cost more that the joints. Might want to tell your dealer that you would like better quality Moogs that are serviceable. See if they would be willing to install Moogs if you provide the joints. It's worth a try. Keep in mind that this would likely be the last time DC would service your LBJ's for free. If you are riding on a long-term extended warranty, probably not a good move to let DC off the hook for this problem.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:58 am

I am thinking about trying just what you say. Buying moog's and then taking them to the dealer and show them the difference and seeing if they will warranty the labor if i bring them the part. I know there are some DC techs on this board, do you guys think that a dealership will do this?

-Nick

PitViper · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:43 am

I think it's worthless to use factory joints.

I've had 2 KJs and both started to go bad at about 15k miles. I've installed moogs on the 04 my self and will be doing the 05 soon.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:59 am

Do you plan on keping your KJ for a Long time? If so, let the dealer install the factory ones now, drive another 15-25K miles on them and do the Moogs later on your own. At that point you may also be in the market for new struts or whatever and can have them done at the same time. In the meantime you can be shopping around for a good shop to do the Moogs.

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:00 am

The dealer will cancel the recall warranty if you replace the LBJ's with Moog. I am in the middle of fighting with my dealer after the LBJ broke a few weeks ago. I am going to replace the new one's with Moogs in a few weeks. I don't trust the factory LBJ's.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:12 am

Oh and FWIW, I am around 35k on my stock lowers w/ Many off road trips on them and they are still w/in spec. I have seen others last longer too but I have also seen them go out sooner. Anyhow, I'm not a big fan of the factory lowers but I have seen them take a lot of abuse over Many miles and still be Ok. Of course, YMMV

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:56 am

JJsKJ wrote:

Do you plan on keping your KJ for a Long time? If so, let the dealer install the factory ones now, drive another 15-25K miles on them and do the Moogs later on your own. At that point you may also be in the market for new struts or whatever and can have them done at the same time. In the meantime you can be shopping around for a good shop to do the Moogs.

Yes i do plan on keeping it until it dies... and this was my other plan. Just have them put in the new factory ones and then i can save money up to get the moog's installed at a later point. And possibly when the strut's get a little more worn out i can have those relpaced at the same time like JJ said.

Thanks, Guys!

-Nick

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:32 pm

new factory ball joints vs. moog's

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