2021 JLUR ball joints

[Jeepzilla]

I’m one of the unlucky ones who had the popping noise coming from the ball joints on my brand new 2021 JLUR. The noise even continued after re-torquing. I decided to swap out the factory ball joints with the Dynatrac rebuildable ball joints. This weekend I’ve finally have some time to get these installed. In the video I have the driver side knuckle removed and you can see how loose the ball joints are. Much looser than the brand new Dynatrac. Would this be normal movement for a Jeep with 22,000 miles and very little off-road, off camber wheeling?

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[chevymitchell]

I’m one of the unlucky ones who had the popping noise coming from the ball joints on my brand new 2021 JLUR. The noise even continued after re-torquing. I decided to swap out the factory ball joints with the Dynatrac rebuildable ball joints. This weekend I’ve finally have some time to get these installed. In the video I have the driver side knuckle removed and you can see how loose the ball joints are. Much looser than the brand new Dynatrac. Would this be normal movement for a Jeep with 22,000 miles and very little off-road, off camber wheeling?

I would consider that normal, yes. The design between factory and the aftermarket joints aren't comparable at all, not just in reliability, but the materials being used and how the joint functions(moves). The factory uses teflon which is meant to make it smooth and easy. The aftermarket doesn't do this for long-term abuse.

Most of the factory joints I've replaced in that 25-40k milage range are worn out. Also, most of the Jeeps I work on have been wheeled. Some joints don't make it past the first wheeling trip. Lol.

Anyway, the clicking isn't normal, of course, but the video you sent looks normal to me.

 

[OrneryBear]

That's not as loose as a bad ball joint (that can also have outward movement if you pull on it), but that doesn't look as stiff as every brand new off the shelf oem balljoint I've ever replaced. Normal for 22k? ya I'm not surprised, that looks fine for 22k. Those at least look like they stay where you articulate them to. They definitely don't look like they were ready to fail.

 

[jellis4148]

LOL, that video looks like me when the wife is wearing something sexy. "come on, you can do it. Wake up". Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Good choice on the new ball joints. I have them, and just waiting to install.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I’m one of the unlucky ones who had the popping noise coming from the ball joints on my brand new 2021 JLUR. The noise even continued after re-torquing. I decided to swap out the factory ball joints with the Dynatrac rebuildable ball joints. This weekend I’ve finally have some time to get these installed. In the video I have the driver side knuckle removed and you can see how loose the ball joints are. Much looser than the brand new Dynatrac. Would this be normal movement for a Jeep with 22,000 miles and very little off-road, off camber wheeling?

In a nutshell, yes. The OEM balljoints are very short lived.

Your mileage is about when I replaced mine that had essentially no off-road use. I had SteerSmarts trackbar, draglink, and tierod, as well as the new steering box. But the jeep would shimmy when I hit certain bumps at highway speeds. Once I replaced the balljoints with Dynatracs, it was all gone.

 

[Jeepzilla]

In a nutshell, yes. The OEM balljoints are very short lived.

Your mileage is about when I replaced mine that had essentially no off-road use. I had SteerSmarts trackbar, draglink, and tierod, as well as the new steering box. But the jeep would shimmy when I hit certain bumps at highway speeds. Once I replaced the balljoints with Dynatracs, it was all gone.

the shimmy you mention is something I’ve been experiencing as well. Every time I hit a big enough bump I’m waiting for the ‘death wobble’ to start. Good to hear the new ball joints remedied that!

 

[Jeepzilla]

I got the first lower Dynatrac ball joint installed. Look at that shine!

 

[Jeepzilla]

That snap ring for the top ball joints is a pain in the a$$ without a good set of snap ring pliers. I made due with what I had but it took a lot longer and a few cuss words.

 

[mwilk012]

Hope it fixes your noise.

There really doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that joint you took a video of. Vertical or lateral movement or a distinct lack of smoothness in the joint is what you're looking for.

 

[Jeepzilla]

Hope it fixes your noise.

There really doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that joint you took a video of. Vertical or lateral movement or a distinct lack of smoothness in the joint is what you're looking for.

the primary issue I had was the popping at low sped turns and excess vibration when hitting bumps at just about any speed.

after installing the Dynatrac ball joints I took the Jeep for a test drive and both issues are gone.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I've seen a lot of balljoints that were obviously worn out. But my OEM balljoints didn't show any perceptible play when I did the standard prybar under the jacked tire tests. Still, after replacing them, the high speed shimmy was gone and the steering was tighter and less wander.

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