Upper & Lower Ball Joint Install

[Lefty23]

Need to get the ball joints replaced on my 14 JK with approx 46K miles. I was told by 4WD Parts that the ball joints typically start going bad around 45K. Got a quote from them for 1K for basic parts. I want to do this once with better parts and want to find somebody cheaper for labor charges. My wife says the ball joints are going bad because of the leveling kit and the after market wheels and tires. She's actually pushing for me to get rid of the Jeep because she thinks it's a money pit.
Somebody please help!!!

[ShutterBug]

Ball joints are easy and you can do them yourself with some basic tools. I would go with a set of Teraflex ball joints if your Jeep is a 2012 or OLDER. If 2012 and newer, they can present a problem, and Synergy would be next choice. Both are around $200-$250 a set. A ball joint press can be borrowed from Auto Zone or Advance Auto for no charge.

Talk to Mike @ JMG Designs (can be reached via this forum). He's from your area and may be able to help you out.

As far as what causes premature wear - my guess it's from heavy tires and wheels with shallow backspacing or wheel spacers. And I can't help you with the wife - they can be, and often are, a money pit. But that's by choice.

[Lefty23]

Holy snikes! I just got quote from different shops to have the uppers and lower ball joints replaced. Overall the total for replacement parts and labor is going to be approx 1K! My wife is now pushing me to get rid of the JK to get something more practical. Ridiculous I know and I'm fighting it.
Anyways, thanks for the info and I'll keep you all posted on what happens....

[bradm]

$200 for ball joints: http://www.synergymfg.com/Synergy-D3...s-p-26182.html

$115 for a ball joint press (which you get back when you return it): http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/ball-joint-press

You'll need a jack, jack stands, a torque wrench (which you can also rent for net $0 from autozone), and a couple metric sockets and wrenches. I've done three sets myself, although using a kit I bought from Harbor Freight. There are tons of how-to's on Youtube. It sucks that you'd be doing it in the cold of winter, but it's not that bad of a job.

$1k+ seems like a giant rip off.

[omgyay]

Rent the axle nut socket set too.

[bradm]

Oh yeah, good catch. 36mm I think, but don't quote me on that.

[Lefty23]

Cold weather and work are things of the past. Our new house has a heated garage ��

[ShutterBug]

I'd be glad to give you a hand. I'm only about 50 minutes from you. I have a torque wrench and the axle nut socket already and can bring a breaker bar, etc. PM me if you decide to tackle it yourself. I'm sure I can get some others to come up and help as well.

[Casamtb]

If I am free I would help too. It's a matter of time before I will be doing mine and I'll never shy away from some garage time.

[rlee]

Doing ball joints is not a bad job but.....Newer JK's have a 2 piece axle seal and quite often the inner part separates when you take the axle out. If this happens the seal gets destroyed and you end up taking the diff apart to replace the seals. I have had it go both ways so just be prepared.
Any type of hobby is a money pit. My wife realises that money and time spent on my Jeep is way better than on a mistress.