Ball joint play unchanged 33K later

[betterthanstock]

I had previously measured the vertical play at about . 010/. 015" driver/pass side at 27K. Today at just under 60K (I drove the truck very little this past year) it's unchanged, as far as I am able to measure it.



I used the needle and got the boots bulging with grease. It's tough for grease to work its way up to the ball. The 2nd gen axle had the boot above the ball, which lets grease flow in, but also water, if it ever breaks.



Anyone else checked their joints lately?



Forgot to specify: I just lubed them today, not at 27K.

I had the axle on jacks, and the wheels off, which lets the ball joints hang down, and opens up air space above them, so hopefully the grease got in. I lifted up/down (with a short 2x4) several times afterwards, to work the grease in there. When the weight rests on them, it wants to squeeze out the grease, down into the boot.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As long as you use the right grease, right amount and anywhere near the moving parts, the grease probably gets into the joints better than you think...

 

[steved]

Mine have been "sloppy" since it was new... they don't appear to have gotten much worse... I too greased them using a needle, but that was around 120k... a little late.

steved

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Been greasing mine with a needle on my '02 since new, as well as all the rest of the sealed joints - ball joints still tight as new, and so are steering joints - but only 55K or so on the truck...

 

[Bob4x4]

I had previously measured the vertical play at about . 010/. 015" driver/pass side at 27K. Today at just under 60K (I drove the truck very little this past year) it's unchanged, as far as I am able to measure it.



I used the needle and got the boots bulging with grease. It's tough for grease to work its way up to the ball. The 2nd gen axle had the boot above the ball, which lets grease flow in, but also water, if it ever breaks.



Anyone else checked their joints lately?



Forgot to specify: I just lubed them today, not at 27K.

I had the axle on jacks, and the wheels off, which lets the ball joints hang down, and opens up air space above them, so hopefully the grease got in. I lifted up/down (with a short 2x4) several times afterwards, to work the grease in there. When the weight rests on them, it wants to squeeze out the grease, down into the boot.

You have had better luck than me... ... ... . I have already replaced mine on the 05.

I now have a new custom upper set that I am testing for a well known company before releasing to the public. They have more than twice the wear surface of the oem and have a hi tech aerospace anti wear coating. So far excellent on the trucks testing them. All the test trucks have Very heavy tire/wheel combos. Hopefully they will be released before the first of the year.



Bob

 

[MickeyMiller]

Bob,

Any idea when the better joints will be available to the rest of us? I have enough play now (93K miles and I haven't been greasing them with a needle tip) that I am planning on replacing mine.



Thank you,

Mickey

 

[MickeyMiller]

Bob,

Sorry... I missed the last of your post "Hopefully they will be released before the first of the year. " Gives me an excuse to put this project off a little while!



Thanks,

Mickey

 

[Kry226]

You have had better luck than me... ... ... . I have already replaced mine on the 05.

I now have a new custom upper set that I am testing for a well known company before releasing to the public. They have more than twice the wear surface of the oem and have a hi tech aerospace anti wear coating. So far excellent on the trucks testing them. All the test trucks have Very heavy tire/wheel combos. Hopefully they will be released before the first of the year.



Bob

But will they have lowers as well?

 

[Bob4x4]

The uppers take much more abuse than the lowers,so they wanted to fix those first



Bob

 

[steved]

The uppers take much more abuse than the lowers,so they wanted to fix those first



Bob

I find that funny because I always had the lowers fail way before the uppers in every truck I have ever owned... I don't know how many lower balljoints I replaced, and the uppers were still smooth and tight... probably around 6 sets of lowers anyway (in multiple trucks)...



steved

 

[05mxdiesel]

You have had better luck than me... ... ... . I have already replaced mine on the 05.

I now have a new custom upper set that I am testing for a well known company before releasing to the public. They have more than twice the wear surface of the oem and have a hi tech aerospace anti wear coating. So far excellent on the trucks testing them. All the test trucks have Very heavy tire/wheel combos. Hopefully they will be released before the first of the year.



Bob

GOOOOOOD balljoints!!!!!!!! - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums



Is this the company your talking about Bob, if it is you don't have to be so secrative about it. I called them yesterday, no product for 60-90 days, so I had to resort to the quad 4x4 kit. My uppers are bad at 64k, but I will replace all 4 at once and the axle u-joints as well. Maybe the second time around I can buy from them.

 

[steved]

... but I will replace all 4 at once and the axle u-joints as well. Maybe the second time around I can buy from them.

I was going to go this route and simply drill a hole in the tin cap for a zerk fitting... make a set of non-greaseable joints greaseable... something to consider...



From what I've gathered, play is normal in the balljoints on the AAMs... I don't think its good (steering is compromised), but I've heard of guys going in for OE replacements because of a little play and the truck came back with more play in the new joints than before.



steved

 

[05mxdiesel]

I will most likely hit the joints up with a needle fitting once they are installed, better than nothing. I hope the moog joints from quad tighten my front end up. I was running wore out tires for a while that had some vibration to them and then I put new tires to get rid of the vibration and to find out I have bad ball joints.

 

[Bob4x4]

GOOOOOOD balljoints!!!!!!!! - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums



Is this the company your talking about Bob, if it is you don't have to be so secrative about it. I called them yesterday, no product for 60-90 days, so I had to resort to the quad 4x4 kit. My uppers are bad at 64k, but I will replace all 4 at once and the axle u-joints as well. Maybe the second time around I can buy from them.

Different Company,I was sworn to secrecy till they become available to the public



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

I find that funny because I always had the lowers fail way before the uppers in every truck I have ever owned... I don't know how many lower balljoints I replaced, and the uppers were still smooth and tight... probably around 6 sets of lowers anyway (in multiple trucks)...



steved

:-laf Maybe because you don't run 37" tires. All the joints that I have gone through still have lube in them,just way too much play,and some clunking. No dial indicator needed a measuring stick would work.



Bob

 

[05mxdiesel]

I'm making a guess, but it must be carli or some company associated with carli suspensions, thats why its so super secret. I miss the old king pins and serviceable hubs.

 

[Kry226]

I will most likely hit the joints up with a needle fitting once they are installed, better than nothing. I hope the moog joints from quad tighten my front end up. I was running wore out tires for a while that had some vibration to them and then I put new tires to get rid of the vibration and to find out I have bad ball joints.

I was on the quad website today and it looks like they are not selling the Moog anymore due to complaints and unsatisfied customers.

 

[CarlsonR]

Dynatrac is developing some balljoints for our vehicle also. .