Bad ball joint?

[fuelfox4949]

Going to post a couple videos of this ball joint is very loose even after checking torque and preload.
This teraflex joint has only been in for about a year.
With light off roading but i have 37s.
Bad or normal play?
Other 3 take force to move

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[fuelfox4949]

Couple more

 

[Maverick909]

bad

 

[JeepinPete]

Have you tightened up the joint? They are made to be adjusted as they wear.

Pete

 

[fuelfox4949]

Have you tightened up the joint? They are made to be adjusted as they wear.

Pete

Yes i tightened it up

 

[fuelfox4949]

I'll have to resemble it all back together and retorque castle nuts, then I'll double check the preload of the ball joints.
Your supposed to have all the weight on them when adjusting the preload.
So hopefully that fixes it cause they been in since feb 23' with no off road trips on them.

 

[Mx5red]

This has been my question when it comes time to replace OEM… if there is a benefit to being able to retighten as with the Teraflex joints, versus just rebuilding (thinking leave in place like Dynatrac or Metalcloak).
I’m curious if you still end up replacing these, and it would be easier in the beginning to go with the other options?

 

[fuelfox4949]

We shall see, i got it back together and have them preloaded.
I'll go for a test run tonight and if there is wobble up front it will be my first thing to check.
If you are doing it for the first time then get the rebuildable that stay in so you dont have to keep pressing them out and in.

 

[m3reno]

How many miles since the install?

 

[fuelfox4949]

1500, everything was greased and torqued in august before going to utah.

Broke down pulling into moab, had to get it shipped home. Ever since then it's had nasty shimmy that goes into death wobble.
It drove 1200 miles just perfect out there.
So I'm trying to track down the problem.
Steering, track bar, tires and alignment checked ok, so into ball joints and control arms.

 

[fuelfox4949]

After the test drive it drove alot better but at 60 to 65 there was front end wobble. Nothing that was getting horrible but very strong feeling.
Tomorrow I'll tear it down and see if that ball joint is loose again after preloading and tightening it and the others down this afternoon.
If its loose I'll look to replace it.
Teraflex has a lifetime warranty and we will see.
If its not loose then onto checking the control arms more in depth.

 

[m3reno]

I was eyeing the terraflex ball joints but after your post I might have to spring for a better set-up.

 

[fuelfox4949]

I was eyeing the terraflex ball joints but after your post I might have to spring for a better set-up.

To be clear, I can't say there 100 percent the problem.
It's still on going.
When i have tracked down the issue, I update each thread i post.

 

[MichaelT333]

Going to post a couple videos of this ball joint is very loose even after checking torque and preload.
This teraflex joint has only been in for about a year.
With light off roading but i have 37s.
Bad or normal play?
Other 3 take force to move

That is bad bad. Ball joints are a wear item and something in your suspension is off causing them to wear stupid fast. You gotta find the problem or it will keep happening

 

[ALEX-4LO]

There should be some play with “force” on new rebuildable ball joints. I just replaced mine with Dynatrac HD ball joints. I also replaced steering and fox ats stabilizer. Also replaced my uca’s & links ends they look worn out, tighten up front track bar. And rides okay. Still need the alignment. After the alignment we will see. But I had to do more than just ball joints.
I would check everything including links and uca/lca’s

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