Replaced Ball Joints on JBA A-Arms today

[TwoBobsKJ]

Today was "KJ front suspension day" at the Jeep ranch. Both of the front upper ball joints have needed replacing for a while and I have another long trip next week so figured might as well change them. Also needed to replace a component on the passenger side JBA coilover that was a warranty fix from JBA (have I said JBA has GREAT customer service?)

The JBA arms needed the paint touched up but the joy was being able to replace the ball joints so easily. Just separate the ball joint from the knuckle, remove the four bolts holding the joint to the a-arm, and remove it. Reverse to install the new ones.

I bought the new ball joints from JBA because Marlin now includes a steel spacer that goes between the boot and the spindle to keep the boot in place and prevent the grease from oozing out (hated all that grease everywhere.) I paid no more for them from Marlin - with the spacer - than I would have from my local NAPA.

Anyway, here's the pics cuz it DID happen :gr_grin:

The old ball joint passenger side:

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Passenger coilover disassembled:

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New driver's side ball joint:

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New passenger side ball joint:

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Passenger side coilover reassembled/installed and new ball joint. You can see the steel spacer between the boot and the knuckle.

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Fun day today - even had time to wash it :waytogo:


Bob

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Looking good! Now it just needs to get off road.

 

[tommudd]

Looks great Bob,
But my UBJs look a bit different :emotions34:
I'll have to check them out closer :gr_grin:

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Looking good! Now it just needs to get off road.

HJ, I have the itch so bad! I'm not going to be that far from Rausch Creek in central Pennsylvania this week and would love to take a side trip and spend an afternoon offloading. It's time to get it dusty and dirty.

Looks great Bob,
But my UBJs look a bit different :emotions34:
I'll have to check them out closer :gr_grin:

I know yours look a bit different and would like to give those a shot - but these will do the job for a while. Unless you want to recruit me for testing :happy175:


Bob

 

[smittyfromPA]

Today was "KJ front suspension day" at the Jeep ranch. Both of the front upper ball joints have needed replacing for a while and I have another long trip next week so figured might as well change them. Also needed to replace a component on the passenger side JBA coilover that was a warranty fix from JBA (have I said JBA has GREAT customer service?)

The JBA arms needed the paint touched up but the joy was being able to replace the ball joints so easily. Just separate the ball joint from the knuckle, remove the four bolts holding the joint to the a-arm, and remove it. Reverse to install the new ones.

I bought the new ball joints from JBA because Marlin now includes a steel spacer that goes between the boot and the spindle to keep the boot in place and prevent the grease from oozing out (hated all that grease everywhere.) I paid no more for them from Marlin - with the spacer - than I would have from my local NAPA.

Anyway, here's the pics cuz it DID happen :gr_grin:

The old ball joint passenger side:

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

Passenger coilover disassembled:

You must be registered for see images

New driver's side ball joint:

You must be registered for see images

New passenger side ball joint:

You must be registered for see images

Passenger side coilover reassembled/installed and new ball joint. You can see the steel spacer between the boot and the knuckle.

You must be registered for see images

Fun day today - even had time to wash it :waytogo:


Bob

I'm still waiting to hear back from Marlin about the warranty fix for the coil-overs. Was it just the valves you replaced? Just curious before i shoot him another email, but since I am on crutches the next two months i guess there is no rush as I cant do anything.

 

[CzarKJ]

Hey bob what are the dimensions of the spacer by chance?

 

[adamkrz]

My upper ball joints have always had that spacer - it doesn't help holding back grease from escaping from the top. I just today replaced the pass. side - I think it's the third time, This time I got a lifetime warranty with the Moog replacement from Adavance auto.

 

[uss2defiant]

reusable spacer?

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

I'm still waiting to hear back from Marlin about the warranty fix for the coil-overs. Was it just the valves you replaced? Just curious before i shoot him another email, but since I am on crutches the next two months i guess there is no rush as I cant do anything.

No, the shock body itself. A pretty easy swap since the adjusting rings relieve all the pressure on the spring. Took me about an hour to swap it out (made easier since it was the passenger side so the A-arm came out without much effort.)

Hey bob what are the dimensions of the spacer by chance?

I didn't measure it but I would estimate about 1/2 to 5/8" thick and 1 inch in diameter. The center hole is just large enough to slide over the ball joint spindle.

reusable spacer?

Yep, it's steel. Holds the boot tightly against the ball joint body and prevents grease from coming out of the bottom of the boot.

Bob

 

[krisP]

Looks great Bob,
But my UBJs look a bit different :emotions34:
I'll have to check them out closer :gr_grin:

opcorn:

 

[dude1116]

I always wondered...doesn't the spacer affect alignment? Since it technically drops the knuckle about .5" away from the ball joint itself.

 

[tommudd]

I always wondered...doesn't the spacer affect alignment? Since it technically drops the knuckle about .5" away from the ball joint itself.

??
If installing the new arms then you'll be getting a new alignment anyways

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I didn't notice anything weird in mine after new ball joints with the spacers.

 

[mightybeet]

always wondered about the spacer but based on everyone pics and what i have im guessing:

- if you have a moog or black half circle boot ball joint then ring above the knuckle.
- if you have a raybestos or blue boot ball joint then ring below the knuckle.

i have the raybestos and with the spacer below the joint the hole and nut for the cotter pin lines up perfectly.

anyone can confirm if this is correct?

 

[dude1116]

??
If installing the new arms then you'll be getting a new alignment anyways

Bob didn't install new arms. He just got the spacer. Wouldn't that change his alignment?

The spacer is being introduced between the bottom of the ball joint and the top of the knuckle, thus moving the knuckle down further (~.5"). Doesn't that affect the suspension geometry a bit?

 

[krisP]

i was under the impression the spacer was because of the ball joint stud diameter/length, maybe im wrong ?

 

[dude1116]

i was under the impression the spacer was because of the ball joint stud diameter/length, maybe im wrong ?

Possibly...but I thought the arms always used the same Moog ball joint. Meaning the length of the stud never changed. So why introduce the spacer?

I'm not knocking it...just asking questions for my own knowledge.

 

[tommudd]

i was under the impression the spacer was because of the ball joint stud diameter/length, maybe im wrong ?

Correct

 

[tommudd]

The body of the ball joints are all the same where they sit down in the the top part and body knuckle, that never changes.
The length of the ball joint changes ( point below the knuckle ) due to different manufacturers
The spacer just is there to keep the boot up tight against the UCA , depending on which is used ( manufacturer wise ) since there is a small difference.

**The setup I am currently running I have one spacer on one side, two on the other to see what works best BUT both ball joints are the same. Only reason is to test if one or two does a better job of keeping the boot in place .

***
Somewhat different ball joint not a bolt in but principal is the same

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Black line area does not change at all this is on ours the area that bolts to the arm
Red are is where it sits down into the knuckle and this should all be the same on all no matter who manufactures them
Green area is what changes, length in this area depends on if you have the spacer or not

Or am I now confusing you and me both ? LOL

 

[dude1116]

The body of the ball joints are all the same where they sit down in the the top part and body knuckle, that never changes.
The length of the ball joint changes ( point below the knuckle ) due to different manufacturers
The spacer just is there to keep the boot up tight against the UCA , depending on which is used ( manufacturer wise ) since there is a small difference.

**The setup I am currently running I have one spacer on one side, two on the other to see what works best BUT both ball joints are the same. Only reason is to test if one or two does a better job of keeping the boot in place .

***
Somewhat different ball joint not a bolt in but principal is the same

You must be registered for see images attach

Black line area does not change at all this is on ours the area that bolts to the arm
Red are is where it sits down into the knuckle and this should all be the same on all no matter who manufactures them
Green area is what changes, length in this area depends on if you have the spacer or not

Or am I now confusing you and me both ? LOL

Bear with me for a second here. The way JBA says to install the spacer is ABOVE the knuckle, thus moving the knuckle down half an inch. If you install the spacer BELOW the knuckle, that would effectively just move the nut down enough to use the nut appropriately for the cotter pin hole.

Take a look at my (crudely drawn) picture. The way I see it, the spacer moves the knuckle down just a bit if the spacer is between the ball joint boot and the knuckle. Is that not correct?

For reference, center picture is Bob's OLD setup. Same ball joint, no spacer. Left is his new setup. Unless it's a new ball joint with a different stud length? But then that length would need to be exactly .5" longer.