Ball joints AGAIN!!!

[SteveGormley]

No BFG's on it though I did have them on my '98 and loved them. It only happens at speeds 50+ and when hitting a bump or buckle in our wonderful MI roads.

 

[cerberusiam]

No BFG's on it though I did have them on my '98 and loved them. It only happens at speeds 50+ and when hitting a bump or buckle in our wonderful MI roads.

First and easiest thing to do is change to a known good set of shocks if nothing else looks obvious. While it may not bounce during driving, that does not mean the shocks are good. Might be worth a shot to change the steering damper also if it is not known good.

Question regarding BJ inspection & Hub / Bearing inspection. Question is how do I inspect these?

Support the axle on jack stands. With a bar under the tire, pry up and see how much movement there is up and down. Stock specs are like . 070 movement and they are good. Not if you like tight steering and decent tire wear. ZERO play is better and keeping it there is good.

Moogs are junk on these trucks. Period. Proven too many times to even count. Now comes the fun part, choose your supplier. Carli and DynaTrac all make a rebuildable joint that is heavier duty, read that expensive. XRF is supposed to be good but even they have problems. Another choice is Raybestos Professional which are rebranded McQuay-Norris HD joints.

Do not use the OE style upper joint which is just a spring loaded pin in the upper joint. Make sure you get uppers that are NOT spring loaded and have a full ball in the joint. The weight is too much for just a pin and eats it fast allowing the lowers to wear and walk up an out of alignment in the socket. Stupid, cheap design that is the single failure point.

Also, the 2008+ t-type steering upgrade will take a LOT of the vagueness from the steering. Tie rod ends are beefier and hsould take a lot more abuse.

 

[SteveGormley]

OK thanks, cerberusiam. I'll check the shocks out tomorrow and then the ball joints when it's not so dang cold out.

 

[SteveGormley]

Well, put new shocks on and also pitmen arm and seems to be OK. Went down bumpy road up to 80mph and no death wobble. Just hope it keeps that way, all the bushings to the linkage are nice and tight no worn rubber and the ball joints are all good.

 

[cerberusiam]

Well, put new shocks on and also pitmen arm

Why would you replace the pitman arm when it has no wear parts in it??

 

[SteveGormley]

Need to proof read next time, was talking about steering while typing. Replaced the adjusting sleeve and the shocks.