Bad Mutha Ball joints

[ASchwartz]

I'm there, I got clunking all over.



Avi

I saw a set over the weekend, they look awesome.



Avi

 

[SierraRam]

Sign me up! The ball joints are about the only stock components left on my suspension



SR

 

[ENafziger]

I need a set too. Any idea on availability?

--Eric

 

[Bob4x4]

I stopped by the Carli compound this morning to buy a few goodies just in time to see one of the test mules stripped to inspect the ball joints after another pounding in the baja. They were like new! no wear,not as much as a discoloration on the coating. Oo.



Bob

 

[Regcabguy]

Sitting trucks.

The only positive thing about this b. s. fuel price is that most of us can't afford to drive our trucks long enough to need balljoints. :{

 

[05mxdiesel]

Any estimate on price? I'm just hoping they aren't out of reach, double the price of a normal one isn't so bad. But if we're talking 1k for a set, screw that.

 

[Kry226]

Double the price of OEM? No, thanks.

 

[Bob4x4]

Any estimate on price? I'm just hoping they aren't out of reach, double the price of a normal one isn't so bad. But if we're talking 1k for a set, screw that.

I haven't heard a set price yet,but for those of us that go through oem quality joints way too quick it will be worth the premium.



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

Double the price of OEM? No, thanks.

:-laf you paid Kore prices for suspension but are unwilling to pay for a premium safety related part.

I am impressed with your logic



Bob

 

[05mxdiesel]

I with you bob4x4, not doing extreme baja type offroading with my truck, but I've already started on my second set with 70k. I just want a tight front end for a change, that lasts.



By the way how is the unit bearing assemblies holding up with carli? Or aren't they running them.

 

[Bob4x4]

I don't now of any Carli equipped trucks that have gone through any bearings,but by no means do I have knowlege of all the trucks outside the

inner circle:-laf



Bob

 

[ASchwartz]

I don't now of any Carli equipped trucks that have gone through any bearings,but by no means do I have knowlege of all the trucks outside the

inner circle:-laf



Bob

Inner Circle?? Dam I want in.

 

[Kry226]

:-laf you paid Kore prices for suspension but are unwilling to pay for a premium safety related part.

I am impressed with your logic



Bob

Bob, I know you comments are in jest, so please understand that mine are too.



I understand what you're saying. But a suspension purchase and ball joints are apples and oranges. KORE gives me additional capability that I didn't have before for what I wanted to do. There's not a ball joint in existence that will give me greater capability in any fashion. They might have a longer life, true for sure, but at what cost?



I also understand that, being part of the "inner circle", you're more apt to defend the pricing of the new joints.



Additionally, your reply suggests that the OEM joints are unsafe. I haven't seen the first safety issue / catastrophic failure concerning our ball joints. I know the Dakotas had some catastrophic failures a few years ago and were recalled, but I don't think this has been the case with our trucks. True, for some (not all), our BJs haven't been holding up like they should, wearing out too quickly and loose ball joints in a 7k lb truck is not a good thing. Actually, its a very bad thing.



But my point was leaning more to how expensive the OEMs are in the first place. The going rate for a complete set of OEMs is, what, around $400? Don't think I could spring $800 for a set of ball joints, when the end result is that I might not have to replace them.



I'll never say never, and I just may have a set once these things are out. But...

 

[05mxdiesel]

But my point was leaning more to how expensive the OEMs are in the first place. The going rate for a complete set of OEMs is, what, around $400? Don't think I could spring $800 for a set of ball joints, when the end result is that I might not have to replace them.



I'll never say never, and I just may have a set once these things are out. But...

I was thinking the Carli bj's would be around the 4-$500 range. I can get oem's off a guy ebay for $80 per side, $160 for the set. The first set I bought was from Quad4x4 which was $219, almost $300 after 2nd day air. I understand you logic as well. And if we're talking $800 they gotta have some warranty.



I have to be able to jump my truck off a sand dune like one of the carli trucks and have them survive. :-laf

 

[Regcabguy]

Killer BJ's.

Double the price of OEM? No, thanks.

You haven't seen them. They're killer! Carli has a saying,"Do it right the first time" Labor is the issue here. Do you want to pay for the job again in 40,000?

 

[Bob4x4]

Inner Circle?? Dam I want in.

:-laf your failure was pre Carli wasn't it



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

Kry226

I have seen stock ball joints loose after less than 5kmi of fun driving on 37's and 20-30k on 35's is about the norm. I would rather drive my truck than work on it and a couple extra bucks up front makes sence to me. Watch this video and you might get a bit better idea why I step it up a notch on parts quality used on my truck.

http://prozac.la/videos/08_500_PreRun/MikesSkyRanchEntry.mov



Bob

 

[Kry226]

Cannot check out the movie here at work, and again, I completely understand what you guys are saying.



But minus the initial start-up cost of a BJ press, my labor will be free. I know the joints will be super quality, and in no way am I trying to down-play that at all. I would easily spring a couple extra bucks, as you say, for quality, if even bullet proof parts. But not double or 2. 5x or 3x the price.



By the way, I've got 60k on my truck right now, 55k of that is with BFG 315's and I still have no issues with loose steering or the BJ clunk. Now as sure as I type this, I can walk out in the parking lot to find my BJs have expired in place, but these are my findings so far. I know others have not been as fortunate. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[ASchwartz]

:-laf your failure was pre Carli wasn't it



Bob

Yes Bent Axle was pre Carli.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have received word they are going into production. A grease fitting has been added. Sounds like mabe another 30 days or so for the release date.



Bob