Front axle?

[FM]

Considering the problems with ball joints and the advantages of locking hubs why not change the front axle? What problems would there be to fit a d60 with kingpins and manual hubs in place of the OEM?

 

[WMoroni]

With enough money you can do most anything. With the custom builders out there you should be able to get one that fits exactly perfect. The only problem would be cost out weighing benefit.

 

[FM]

I can get a rebuilt ford d60 for $3400. It would still need buckets and control arm mounts. I'm not sure if I could do that myself or what it would cost to farm it out or what unintended consequences there could be. I'm open to a better solution but just what would that be? With 138k I'm on my 6th or 7th set of ball joints. These last ones are Carli I installed this May and the lowers have a 16th in them. I've talked with Carli and they're stand up folks but I'm ready to put a match to it. #@$%!

 

[CIverson]

I've got through loads of ball joints too.



Problems going to a Kingpin axle:



It's narrower, you'd have to get new tubes pressed in to really do it correctly. Also, in stock form it's really tight on the short side tube to install the coil bucket and control arms. I've seen it done on 2nd gen trucks and the bucket got in real close to the inner C.



Also, if you read the 1st gen forums you will see alot of people with issues running kingpins. I con't recall exactly what they were though.



Lastly, you have the ABS sensor issue. You'd have to figure out a way to fix that.



It seems the 2nd gen trucks had better luck with balljoints and the knucles/ hubs are really close. I wonder if you could replace the inner C's w/ 2nd gen stuff, run the 2nd gen parts out from there and still keep the ABS signal.

 

[EDankievitch]

What are you guy's doing to cause the Ball joints to fail???? I've got 126450 miles on my 05 4x4 and I'm only on my 2nd set. My truck is used for towing some off road and I'm running 35" tires have been for years now. The update to the Carli's upper's was the best thing I ever did they are still as tight as day one. I only wish that at the time the Carli lower's were available. I used Moog and even they still seem to be holding up. I grease everything at each oil change and use the full synthetic grease that Carli sent with the upper bal joints. I should add that I had installed the Dynatraxx free spin hubs when the truck was new... ... .

 

[Prairie Dog]

It's a mystery to me too. I'm at 70k and the shop told me they're still great and I believe it since I have no front end problems at all.

 

[FM]

It's a mystery to me as well. Could be the 200 lbs Buckstop bumper. Could be the 35" Toyos. Could be the Kore Chase setup. Could be I drive off road as the need arises but I drive it easy, no racing. Could be I don't know what else. The problem I have blaming the above list is the first 2 sets burned out with a stock setup before "inhancement". Frankly there's no reason a truck of this nature should have any problems with anything I've done to it IMHO.



Spoke with a local shop this morning. Their recommendation was to replace from the OEM yokes out with GM. Have not got an estimate yet nor a definite yea or nea on using the OEM brakes.



All input welcome.



In my mind I keep seeing Col. Potter taking care of his jeep after George ran over it.

 

[MQuirin]

Off topic:

George Burns was the cigar-smoking comedian. Frank Burns was the character on MASH. I remember that episode, though.

 

[FM]

My mistake, had the right face but wrong name. Such is my advancing decrepitude.



I looked at a 2011 F-350 Saturday. They press the ball joint in the outer knuckle and the tapered stud rides in the yoke. Hummmm

 

[ENafziger]

I'd get a replacement set of the Carli lowers... they've gone through substantial changes from the first batch. I know it's no fun replacing parts, but you have nothing to lose. Sage stands behind his stuff, and if you replace them with the newest ones coming out in a couple weeks, chances are you'll never have another problem.

--Eric

 

[FM]

How often can you change ball joints before the yokes are shot? Mine seem to require less hp to turn out each successive time.

 

[HHhuntitall]

If you're gonna spend that kind of money, call Dynatrac, give them a shot at your checkbook. They've always been nice to me on custom work, and great to deal with. Lots and lots of options they can hook you up with, even a nice Dana 80 front if you really want one. They're great for fire-breathing dragons and smoke-blowing goats... .



Dynatrac

 

[JerryNelson]

just got my Dynatrac ball joints in the mail. upper and lower hope there the last ones I bye.

 

[FM]

just got my Dynatrac ball joints in the mail. upper and lower hope there the last ones I bye.

I've said that before. Hope you have better luck.



It's not like I want to spend the money but I don't see a good alternative. Somebody hit me with a viable alternative that can be done for less.

 

[ENafziger]

I'm not sure why you're looking for an alternative? What's wrong with the Carli's? The allowed tolerance in lower BJs is a lot more than 1/16" even on a brand new truck off the lot.

If you're unsatisfied, have Sage send you a new set. It costs you nothing other than the time to put them in!

--Eric

 

[FM]

I guess I'm concerned that the Carli's only have 6 months on them, low miles, and maybe a total of 6 ton of CABC and have the ware they do. I'm a little bit jaded and starting to think the task is beyond the capabilities of a single load bearing ball joint. I'm concerned about the yokes and how many more times they will tolerate changing ball joints. And I reckon I'm concerned that per Murphy's law they will go south on me at the worst possible time under the worst possible conditions and am looking to head off the experience. What I'm not doing is ragging on the people at Carli. They've been nothing less than up front with me and I have full confidence in their integrity and intentions. Before I take them up on their offer I intend on running a while to see what the ware rate does but I'm starting to hear the front right knock when I hit the brakes. In the mean time I need figure out what options I have. To that end I'm here asking.

 

[bigblock_doc]

As for wearing out mine got 120,000 miles. Bought Moog with grease fittings.

Syn. grease. Hope to get another 100,000 before I have to replace them again.









2003 4x4 auto

 

[FM]

I sure wish I knew what I'm doin wrong. I've put in 4 sets of moog greaseable ball joints and serviced them regularly. Perhaps mine are like dog years, so in ball joint miles I must have about 750,000 mile on my truck. ;-)