which ball joints

[SWCampbell]

As I have done a search I have seen alot of threads covering ball joints. I am in need of replacing ball joints and really don't know which to get. Now, I have read that Carli is the best and the ones to look at, but I can already tell you they are way out of my price range. I've read about Moog and Spicer. Alot of people say they aren't happy with Moog and then again you read the ones that they wouldn't trade for them, same for Spicer. Someone also mentioned a XRF brand. Can anyone give me a no BS opinion I would really appreciate it!

 

[JKreiss]

I can tell you if you go Moog, just don't do the adjustable. Our trucks should NEVER have an adjustable ball joint in the first place. However it happens. If you can't swing for the Carli's, at least think about it in the long run. You're going to go through 2-3 sets of joints in the time you'll have Carli's joint's in. They'll pay for themselves. I've learned the hard way, 2 sets of ball joints (OEM & Moog) in 40k miles not including the factory joints. As soon as the Carli's are off backorder i'm putting them in and done with it. Keep in mind also, i drive in California where our freeways are the equivalent of a trophy truck proving ground. Texas is a lot better so another brand of Joints might fare a lot better and longer.

 

[jjdiesel]

I can tell you if you go Moog, just don't do the adjustable. Our trucks should NEVER have an adjustable ball joint in the first place. However it happens. If you can't swing for the Carli's, at least think about it in the long run. You're going to go through 2-3 sets of joints in the time you'll have Carli's joint's in. They'll pay for themselves. I've learned the hard way, 2 sets of ball joints (OEM & Moog) in 40k miles not including the factory joints. As soon as the Carli's are off backorder i'm putting them in and done with it. Keep in mind also, i drive in California where our freeways are the equivalent of a trophy truck proving ground. Texas is a lot better so another brand of Joints might fare a lot better and longer.

Good advice!

 

[SWCampbell]

Thanks JK that is great info and alot to consider. Sounds as though the if I could afford Carli's it would be a better choice in the long run, I have 115000 miles on my truck now and am planning on keeping it for a while.

 

[JCrockett]

Also look at the Dynatrac ball joints as an alternative to Moogs or Carli. I have Carli uppers and Moog lowers and so far so good, only about 10k on them though

 

[EDankievitch]

I've tried the Moog Ball joints on my truck and my friend's while his worked right from day one the set that I installed on my truck were binding and binding bad. If you'r going to spend the time and money to take the truck apart spend the money on the Carli units, Why do the job twice. My truck was so bad it was almost un drive able with the Moog units in.

 

[JKreiss]

With the Moogs you're going to have different results. Like EDankievitch pointed out, some have good luck, some don't. My truck drove worse with new Moog joints than it did with the old OEM joints. There's so much info on TDR about ball joints, you just have to sit down and do some the research. I'm doing Carli's because, as you'll read on here, nobody has done more R&D, more real world testing, and more all out abuse than Carli. Also the customer support and follow up is paramount. Like others have pointed out, it's a labor intensive process so do it once and be done.

 

[mrtrombley]

I can tell you if you go Moog, just don't do the adjustable. Our trucks should NEVER have an adjustable ball joint in the first place.

JKriess, can you explain more about why to "not" have adjustibles. I have to do upper & lower ball joints on my 4wd, 125K miles on it.



My dealer only uses OEM or Moog Adjustibles. Approx $850 complete, includes alignment with the adjustibles. When Carli's cost $800 just for the parts, I don't have much choice.



Any more advice? Thanks.

 

[Regcabguy]

tireclub.com offers McQuay-Norris and XRF's at an affordable price. Carli dissected some Moogs on his website. Scary.

 

[JKreiss]

mrtrombley- It's just that we have straight axle trucks, there should never be a need for camber adjustments when you're just going down the road. Yes in some cases you can you can do it, but you shouldn't do it with your application. As far as the Carli's go, i can't speak from experience from owning them, i can only speak from the experience of opting out because of the price.



I too like many here have been scared away by the price of Carli ball joints. The $800 bucks plus install would have ran me about $1400. Instead, i've put 2 sets up Moogs in and one set being the adjustables. I have over $2000 into ball joints/labor and i'm in need of them again. My Moogs average about 40k miles. This time i'm doing the Carli's and hoping to never have to do ball joints again. After spending about 80+hrs reading everything i could possibly find on the Carli's i'm confident in my future purchase. Now if i could just find them in stock somewhere... .

 

[mrtrombley]

JK
Thanks for the reply, and I do understand what you are saying, but I can only afford to spend the $850 right now. Actually it was supposed to go into an exhaust system which I will have to put off for until later. Besides, you are saying you can't even get the Carli's. I have to do them now so I can pass my state inspection. It came as a little bit of a surprise since I didn't realize I had any problem.