moog ball joints

[AEdelheit]

Thanks for clearing that up Sir!
Now if they can just get production ramped up.

Scott

That is always the issue for small companies and they just had a shop fire that took out some electrical last week so even more backed up, Are you looking for a set now?

 

[EDankievitch]

Shop fire? Man that sucks. They had just moved to a larger shop I think last Month. Talking with them on the phone they seemed to be very help full.

 

[Prairie Dog]

That is always the issue for small companies and they just had a shop fire that took out some electrical last week so even more backed up, Are you looking for a set now?

Nah, no rush. I want to replace them before next years camping season so I can wait.
I'll keep checking on EMF. Honestly I don't even know if they're bad for sure but I've got 122K on the stockers so it seems like it's about a 99% chance they're shot by now. I did have a bit of odd handling last year while towing. When going around freeway turns, I had to saw the steering wheel back and forth to maintain lane control. Gotta check the steering gear too. Tierods are all good .

I'm a little concerned about metal on metal joints. Some people that have used brands like Carli say that they can feel the road through the steering wheel. I'm wondering how much of a factor that is.
I also don't want to do this again so a tiny amount of NVH is acceptable to me.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[AEdelheit]

Nah, no rush. I want to replace them before next years camping season so I can wait.
I'll keep checking on EMF.

I'm a little concerned about metal on metal joints. Some people that have used brands like Carli say that they can feel the road through the steering wheel. I'm wondering how much of a facotr that is.
I also don't want to do this again so a tiny amount of NVH is acceptable to me.

Thanks,
Scott

Ok well I know where there are some in stock ready to ship in the US if you need them.

I have Carli ball joints and dont notice any more road feel through the steering wheel,have also used Dynatrac and NVH with those either.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Ok well I know where there are some in stock ready to ship in the US if you need them.

I have Carli ball joints and dont notice any more road feel through the steering wheel,have also used Dynatrac and NVH with those either.

Oh that's good to know. Might take you up on that!

Scott

 

[EDankievitch]

I have the EMF’s in the truck I don’t feel the road from the ball joints. I do feel it from the steering shaft bushings that come with the Ball joints. If you are sawing you’re steering wheel back an forth both your joints and steering shaft are worn. Watch EMF’s web site videos. And it’ll make sense.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Thankfully, my 03 doesn't have that design built into the steering shaft/collar. My buddies 06 does though. I know they made a lot of improvements to NVH in the 2006 and that my have been one of them.
I've also checked for any other slop in my steering shaft and it's tight down to the gear but the gear itself is suspect.

Scott

 

[EDankievitch]

Steering gears do wear. Sometimes you can adjust the preload and take some slop out. There is a jamb nut on the top that stud sticking out , some have a socket for an Allen wrench some a screwdriver slot allows for gear preload adjustment. Just go with caution. I’ve gone too much and the steering box was binding.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Steering gears do wear. Sometimes you can adjust the preload and take some slop out. There is a jamb nut on the top that stud sticking out , some have a socket for an Allen wrench some a screwdriver slot allows for gear preload adjustment. Just go with caution. I’ve gone too much and the steering box was binding.

Thanks, I have adjusted them before (and gone too far) so I know what your talking about.
I was shocked to find I could turn the adjuster a little more than a full turn and a half! That was probably what caused the wonky steering on the freeway when towing.

Also checked my ball joints. Been putting it off because I almost didn't want to know..
Keep in mind that my truck has 122K and never been off-roaded. Rarely even on a dirt road. I got 4WD for snow.
The suspension makes no noises when driving.

Lowers have up to .018" play up and down if we bounce it hard. There is a definite clunk to it but isn't a little movement normal/acceptable? Read someplace that RAM allows .060 or .090???
Uppers have less that .007" play in and out.
Would you replace these?

Bearings have low mileage and are good. The only tie-rod that hasn't been replaced is the outer Left and it has slight up and down movement but no side to side. It's only $25 so I'm going to replace it before alligning.

To me, that all seems pretty good and I should be able to get it alligned but I'm no pro and welcome any comments..

Thanks!
Scott

 

[EDankievitch]

I'm not sure if that really is a good or fair assessment of your Ball Joints. I know that on both my 05 and my 13 when they started to pull to the left on the highway I found the lowers shot. Both trucks the factory set lasted 65-70k miles. I do a fair amount of towing and backing of trailers into places that they really don't fit into. Lots of slow speed steering. That said if it was my truck I'd be doing the Ball joints and I'd be doing the full set. Ether Carli or EMF. Do it once and forget about it.

 

[brods]

....
The suspension makes no noises when driving.

Lowers have up to .018" play up and down if we bounce it hard. There is a definite clunk to it but isn't a little movement normal/acceptable? Read someplace that RAM allows .060 or .090???
Uppers have less that .007" play in and out.
Would you replace these?

....

FSM says replace lowers when total up/down movement exceeds 0.090" and replace uppers when side to side movement exceeds 0.060".
Another way to do it is as jelag did, leave em alone until the truck exhibits symptoms, such as tire wear.