Ball joints

[TMutziger]

Time for new ball joints. I tried having my truck aligned and the shop said they couldn't because my ball joints were to loose. Uppers and lowers. Now trying to decide which ones to go with. Much as I would love to, I can't afford Carli's. Considering Dynatracs or the kit I found on Home (advertised in back of TDR mag. ) that includes Dana premium ball joints, tools and instructions. Even though I have never done it before, I plan on doing the work myself. Looking for suggestions on which ball joints to use and if it is worth it to spend the money on the special tools or if I can do it without them.

 

[dresslered]

I've been very pleased with Moog and my front end has been rock solid for the last 80,000 miles. I also did the tie rods, connecting rods and added the DSS at the same time. Good luck on the project as the only work I did on this was the DSS and writing the check for the rest.

 

[RHestand]

I did mine (upper & lower) and also used Moog HD from Rock Auto. It's been about 20K miles and they're still doing fine.
I used a friend's ball joint press, along with my own hand tools. It's been a couple of years and I can't remember every detail, but I know I could not have done it WO the BJ press.
If my memory serves, I think Rock Auto has a package deal with ball joints and spec. tools at a fair price, plus a 5% TDR discount.
Ray

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I too have had good luck with Moog. BUT, a neighbor with a 3rd gen hasn't. He's not a member (yet) so can't post but was replacing worn ball joints when he got to the left upper and discovered…it was bad out of the box!! He now has a set of Carli's on the way. Yes the Moog's have a warranty but not for his time. and bad out of the box…??!!

 

[EDankievitch]

I've done a few trucks now, Had MOOG's that were bad right out of the box also. If you'r going to spend the time doing the job spend the money on the Carli's.

 

[HHhuntitall]

WOW! I've done hundreds of these, and not had ANY bad MOOG parts out of the box. I did have one set that didn't run 20k, but knowing the owner, I'm betting it's more of a grease worm issue and operating conditions than the product failure. I have seen the Carli's, and they look massive and like I'd really like to use them in my own trucks, but for the cost and availability, I'm not sold on them. I also use all MOOG steering parts in my shop, and have only had one issue, which was bad threads on a tie-rod end, which I think had more to do with handling issues and the age of the part than anything else. I definitely reccommend you use a ball joint press when installing, as I've seen some really screwed up axle housings from "backyard-pros" using a hammer and socket..... or maybe their heads as a hammer, instead of a logic instructional instrument.

 

[dresslered]

I'm not a Moog rep, but I've had great success with mine. What does bad out of the box mean? Could these be shop returned items (i. e. ordered wrong part and damaged it trying to make it fit)?

 

[moser11]

I've used xrf recently on a buddies ford, and have read some good things on here about them... .

 

[TMutziger]

Anyone have anything to say about the Dynatrac's. I was sort of leaning toward them over the Carli's because they are about $200 cheaper. I really can't afford to buy the Carli units and then pay another $400 in labor to have them put in. I don't have all the right tools to do it myself, but found a kit with the press and adapters and complete instructions from quad 4x4.com for $300. Or I can buy the master kit from them that includes Dana premium greaseable ball joints, the tools and instructions for about $850, which is what the Carli's cost alone. I'm still undecided but need to make up my mind. I just put new tires on and need to get the ball joints done before I ruin them.

 

[MGaisbacher]

a friend of mine just purchased the carli ball joints, we have not installed them yet, but I am very impressed of how well they are constructed. I have done quite a few trucks with moog parts and I have never had any come backs from moog. I believe the carlis are worth the extra $, that is what is going on the front of my mega cab.

 

[TFucili]

I had Moogs put in my truck and it drives like crap. Requires constant attention to stay between the lines. Very unhappy.

 

[MARK JAQUITH]

I had moogs put on my 01. 5 3500 and have had nothing but trouble--

have had 4 different shops do front end alignment and still drives like crap and they all say lousey ball joints!





01. 5 3500 HO QC4x4 4:10 gears Edge ez rv275's Jardine exhaust 2nd stage air Jacobs e brake SB Con ofe SPA digital gages 220500 miles on orig vp_44

 

[seafish]

I had Moogs put in my truck and it drives like crap. Requires constant attention to stay between the lines. Very unhappy.

I am not sure if you know this or not, but TDR concensus is that you MUST stay away from the ADJUSTABLE moog ball joints, though the regualr moogs are decent BJ's. The adjustable ones cause noting but problems JUST like what you are talking about !!!



Do you know for certain which Moogs you innstalled??



Sorry I don't have part #'s, but I think if you searched TDR for moog ball joints and did some reading you would find the actual part #'s for both different kinds and could compare them to what you installed.

 

[seafish]

I had moogs put on my 01. 5 3500 and have had nothing but trouble--

have had 4 different shops do front end alignment and still drives like crap and they all say lousey ball joints!





01. 5 3500 HO QC4x4 4:10 gears Edge ez rv275's Jardine exhaust 2nd stage air Jacobs e brake SB Con ofe SPA digital gages 220500 miles on orig vp_44

Mark, PLEASE look at my post above and see if it also applies to your situation !!!

 

[MARK JAQUITH]

Mine are non-adjustable --Will be looking for a shop to put good ones on-- if they will guaranty that I can get front end lined up so the truck dosent try to use 2 lanes at the same time--I have put 11000 miles on these ball joints -and torn up 2 tires. Had the front end components -frame -etc checked by 3 different shops and found nothing wrong there.













01. 5 3500 QC HO 4X4 4:10 GEARS EDGE EZ RV275'S JARDINE EXHAUST AFE 2ND STAGE AIR JACOBS EBRAKE SB CON OFE SPA DIGITAL GAGES

 

[MAllen1]

I have had Moog ball joints on my 99 for 100k and haven't had a problem.

 

[TMutziger]

I went with the Dynatracs and couldn't be happier I did. Just about 15,000 miles on them and they great so far. Truck handles better than it ever has. Took a few thousand miles for them to loosen up though. They were so tight when new that the steering would stay wherever you pointed it instead of kind of self straightening out like now. Hard to explain but now the truck just goes smooth and straight down the hwy, no constant correcting.

 

[brods]

I had Moogs put in my truck and it drives like crap. Requires constant attention to stay between the lines. Very unhappy.

I had the same problem (Moog lowers and Spicer non adj uppers). I had a bad tie rod end so I upgraded to the 08 steering. Still no improvement and it gradually got worse and worse. I liked Moog stuff so I was in denial that new ball joints could be bad, but after seeing many others on the boards who had problems with the Moogs I finally broke down and got some XRFs. Problem solved.



Once the Moogs were out of the truck they did not move freely and had a notchy kind of uneven binding feel. Called Moog and they acknowledged they had other complaints in this application and said to contact who I bought the joints from. It took a few emails before Rock Auto agreed to give me a store credit (they originally wanted to send out new Moog ball joints, um, no thanks). I had to eat the shipping both ways on the Moogs. Many reliable companies have been sold, some times more than once, and are just riding on their old reputations. I put Moog in that category now. It is a shame.

 

[TFucili]

I am not sure if you know this or not, but TDR concensus is that you MUST stay away from the ADJUSTABLE moog ball joints, though the regualr moogs are decent BJ's. The adjustable ones cause noting but problems JUST like what you are talking about !!!



Do you know for certain which Moogs you innstalled??



Sorry I don't have part #'s, but I think if you searched TDR for moog ball joints and did some reading you would find the actual part #'s for both different kinds and could compare them to what you installed.

They are the non-adjustable. I had read the threads about the adjustable joints being an issue. Thanks.

 

[TFucili]

I had the same problem (Moog lowers and Spicer non adj uppers). I had a bad tie rod end so I upgraded to the 08 steering. Still no improvement and it gradually got worse and worse. I liked Moog stuff so I was in denial that new ball joints could be bad, but after seeing many others on the boards who had problems with the Moogs I finally broke down and got some XRFs. Problem solved.



Once the Moogs were out of the truck they did not move freely and had a notchy kind of uneven binding feel. Called Moog and they acknowledged they had other complaints in this application and said to contact who I bought the joints from. It took a few emails before Rock Auto agreed to give me a store credit (they originally wanted to send out new Moog ball joints, um, no thanks). I had to eat the shipping both ways on the Moogs. Many reliable companies have been sold, some times more than once, and are just riding on their old reputations. I put Moog in that category now. It is a shame.

This is exactly where I think I am at right now. I also have done the steering upgrade. I am simply lacking the funds to redo the joints again.