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Ball joints 4WD

2487 Views 21 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Bruiser78, 
M
Mine are starting to go out, seems I've read a post where somebody mentioned a particular brand or something that sounded like it was considered an upgrade.

Any suggestions on which ones to use?

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GloNDark
If the cost is not an issue, you can not beat the Carli ball joints. They are NOT cheap. But so far it's been the best repair/upgrade I've made to my truck.

There are others out there as well, Dynatrac, XRF, Moog. I have heard really good things about the Moog greasable ball joints.
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J
While replacing my entire front end I could not justify the cost of the Carli joints so I went with the greasable Moogs and they are holding up well at 18K, even through some death wobble issues that still haunt me occasionally.

Edit; 2008, 1-ton Dually, crew cab long bed for me
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Danderson
Moog seems to get the worst buyer response. Every bj aside from Dynatrac and Carli is made in China/Taiwan.
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Bruiser78
Did u have any steering issues once u used the Moogs? Hard steering and won't self center? I just did my truck with Moogs and I'm having those two problems now.
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LNaugle
Dynatracs are much cheaper than Carlis and you will never need to warranty them. Carli on the other hand...
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J
Most parts in most vehicles are made in China/Taiwan/Korea etc., it is the quality control of the respective brands that makes the primary difference. I have used Moog joints in everything from family cars to custom Jeep Rock Buggies and they have always held up well. There have been some failures over the years but it was limited and it happens to every brand. The Dynatracs and Carlis are an amazing and rock solid product but the "lesser" brands are working in millions of cars and trucks with no problems.
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J
I have had no problems at all with alignments, tracking or anything else.

I also replaced/upgraded the entire front end in one fell swoop except for the u-joints, which was a bone headed move on my part as I know have to replace them. Meaning I eliminated other potential issues in my quest to cure my death wobble.

I also figured the crappy OEM units got me to 95K before they gave out and that the greaseable Moogs should, in theory, work for me just fine.
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Bruiser78
I wonder why mines so hard to turn now and doesn't self align correctly? My dealer said that is pretty common when using Moogs.
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vb712
Before spring time, I plan on replacing mine with dynatracs. I would rather spend a little extra and never have to worry about replacing them again.
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Danderson
Bruiser78 said:
I wonder why mines so hard to turn now and doesn't self align correctly? My dealer said that is pretty common when using Moogs.
Click to expand...
Sage Carli dissected some Moogs. I wish the company would publish his findings. it was in their archives.
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Danderson
Bruiser78 said:
I wonder why mines so hard to turn now and doesn't self align correctly? My dealer said that is pretty common when using Moogs.
Click to expand...
The dealer's being truthful.
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J
Bruiser78 said:
I wonder why mines so hard to turn now and doesn't self align correctly? My dealer said that is pretty common when using Moogs.
Click to expand...
Not sure, is everything else in order? If they are not bad I don't see how they could cause that issue.
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Smalltownpower
Did you test the knuckle before you put the tie rod on, if you couldn't move the knuckle by Hand the joints are not right. Loosen the nuts on both ball joints and break them free. Retorque in sequence and you should be able to turn freely by hand. There was a post a month or so back with the correct torques and in which order to torque the ball joints.


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Bruiser78
I didn't no. I had a shop do this for me. I can take tie rod off myself and jack front up and test though myself.
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Smalltownpower
That or your axle got rolled back somehow and now it's not angles right. That will keep it from going back to home (straight)


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M
Sticker shock! I looked up the Dynatracs, and after seeing their prices didn't even both to look up Carli.

Back to the real world most of inhabit, I looked on Rock Auto and saw Raybestos Professional and ACDelco units for around $100 ea. They're adjustable a little and the Delco's are forged then CNC machined.

Any good or bad experience with either of those?

$100 ea neighborhood is spendy enuf for me!

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TurboDiesel7
macx said:
Sticker shock! I looked up the Dynatracs, and after seeing their prices didn't even both to look up Carli.

Back to the real world most of inhabit, I looked on Rock Auto and saw Raybestos Professional and ACDelco units for around $100 ea. They're adjustable a little and the Delco's are forged then CNC machined.

Any good or bad experience with either of those?

$100 ea neighborhood is spendy enuf for me!

Thanks
Click to expand...
Ive read on here multiple times if you cant get carli or dynatrac opt for the raybestos professional. No experience, just what has been said here many times
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Dieselman1017
I have seen the big problem with the self centering and memory steer with moogs is that the internal bushing is a hard metal bushing and of you don't get the housing the ball joint presses in buffed down to shiny metal (in turn clean all the rust out ) it distorts the joint and causes it to be to tight and there is a tsb on moog website about the problem. I have also seen the same problem with napa ball joints take them apart and clean rust out and they worn like a champ. I run moog and napa and have not had any problems with plus they are both life time and I will get paid to change them under warrenty if they go bad. It's a Win win for me. But I throw wrenches for a living and does not bother to me to work on them. The carlises are good ball joints but I don't off-road and could not justifie the cost.


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Bruiser78
I dunno but my steering is complete BS now that I put Moogs on it.
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