Do I need new ball joints?

[JLJeepGuy513]

The Mohave comes from the factory with a cast iron steering knuckle. When I replace my ball joints, I intend to replace these as well. Can’t hurt and it’s already apart.

https://www.moparonlineparts.com/sk...xwgEaQvKy9ip4yV2E2m0Q2dCEN_aRnEIaAsoxEALw_wcB

for over 1k, you might as well get the reid aftermarket ones. They run 500 each and i assume are better than oem mojave. Also, RockJock sells theirs for 900.

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[Adv_aw8s]

Do you have a part # or link to where you bought the steel knuckles?

I found mine used on this forum off of a 392 with 40 miles on them. I believe they switched to the rock jock high steer kit which includes new knuckles.

 

[Terpsmandan]

for over 1k, you might as well get the reid aftermarket ones. They run 500 each and i assume are better than oem mojave. Also, RockJock sells theirs for 900.

I saw that as well and agree with you. Probably could save some money with some take offs but those will be few and far between

 

[Nokones]

Jack the wheel off the ground by a couple of inches and get a pry bar under the tire and move the tire/wheel up and down and see if you have any play in the ball joints

 

[DanFelix]

JLs can have bad ball joints even if there is no play as tested/shown in the video. The JL ball joints have a plastic lining that cradles the steel ball. This is the component that causes the ball joints to fail. If everything else is tight and there is no play, I would replace the ball joints.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/interesting-ball-joint-failure-don’t-trust-the-traditional-diagnostics.123407/

Not sure I understand. What has failed if there is no play as tested? Do the ball joints just age-out even if no performance changes are experienced? Thanks.

 

[renegadecaderyn]

Not sure I understand. What has failed if there is no play as tested? Do the ball joints just age-out even if no performance changes are experienced? Thanks.

There is a plastic cap inside that gets degraded. Metal and plastic don't go together when there is friction (even when greased). This is not a matter of age-out (JLs are only 5 years old), but cost savings measures at the expense of quality.

 

[DanFelix]

There is a plastic cap inside that gets degraded. Metal and plastic don't go together when there is friction (even when greased). This is not a matter of age-out (JLs are only 5 years old), but cost savings measures at the expense of quality.

Understood. Thanks.

 

[jav_eee]

Not sure I understand. What has failed if there is no play as tested? Do the ball joints just age-out even if no performance changes are experienced? Thanks.

They were not needing to be replaced but OP replaced them anyway. Think that’s what you were asking…

 

[DanFelix]

They were not needing to be replaced but OP replaced them anyway. Think that’s what you were asking…

Correct. Thanks.

 

[GoatHerder]

Just replaced both my ball joints at 50,000 miles with Dana all metal ball joints, front tire bump shake is gone, not death wobble, just a bump shimmy, and driving drift is gone. could not detect that they where bad by trying to move the tire while lifted.

 

[Megawatt]

70k is nice. I think I got 12k before I had to get aftermarket ball joints. Lots of washboard trails here in the desert.

 

[zouch]

yes.

the factory ball joints are 100% crap; barely suitable for the test drive.
you will likely not be able to detect that they are wearing/worn while they are still installed using the regular 'wiggle' tests until they are dangerously worn.

when i replaced mine with a fraction of the mileage you have on yours on my way to 37s and having run 'only; 35s, they were obviously trashed. i never had death wobble, but after upgrading the steering components and Ball Joints, it's run true even without a steering stabilizer installed.

BTW; since you have a diesel, you probably already have the cast knuckles in the front D44.

EDIT:
correction; our Willys came with aluminum knuckles.
@Terpsmandan

Running 37” KO2’s with a Mopar lift on my ‘22 JLURD. Just about to pass 70k. Got some DW about 15 months ago so I added a set of MC Geometry brackets to get the caster angle back to a bit over 7 degrees and that killed the DW. Now I get a bit of occasional shake at 60. I jacked up the each side of the front of the Jeep to see if there was any lateral slop in the front wheels and I could not push either tire in or out when I grabbed the top of the wheel and pushed and pulled. The “experts” say that I should have worn out my ball joints by now. How can I tell if they are worn out or not?

 

[grimmjeeper]

BTW; since you have a diesel, you probably already have the cast knuckles in the front D44.

Diesels did not automatically come with steel knuckles. Mine came with aluminum knuckles. As a preventative measure, I swapped them out for Reid knuckles when I did a bunch of other upgrades to the front axle.


For the OP, I will agree with everyone else. At 70K miles I would be stunned if your factory ball joints are in good shape. Even if they pass the wiggle test, they are most likely shot.

 

[Tread4Lo]

I know most people are talking Reid knuckles, but is the Rancho knuckles are up to snuff as well? They are about half the price of the Reid's and factory Mojave's.

Yeah, the diesel did not come with steel knuckles. Which was a bit of a let down knowing it would need to get replaced potentially at some point.

 

[JT1]

I know most people are talking Reid knuckles, but is the Rancho knuckles are up to snuff as well? They are about half the price of the Reid's and factory Mojave's.

Yeah, the diesel did not come with steel knuckles. Which was a bit of a let down knowing it would need to get replaced potentially at some point.

I don't see Rancho knuckles for a JL, are they new?

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