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Gold Hills Posse 4×4 Club · Folsom, CA

Ball Joint Upgrade

  1. Nubby Webmaster K6NUB Joined: February 2018
    #17 Sep 2017, 5:41 AM

    I am starting to plan for the installation of my c-gussets and want to replace the ball joints at the same time.  At the end of the day I am just trying to get by on my Dana 30 until I figure out how serious of a hobby this is going to be for me and then upgrade from there, so I don't want to start investing in the high dollar rebuildable options.  And yes I now realize I should have just started with a Rubicon 🙂

    Seems like most folks are just going with the Synergy's, anyone using another one in the $200 price range they like better?  I like the idea of the Teraflex adjustable ones, but grinding a notch in my axle shaft U-Joint so it will clear just does not feel like the best solution.

    Thanks!

    Jamie & Damaris
  2. kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #27 Sep 2017, 10:57 AM

    Lots of experience with JKU ball joint issues in the group, ask the VP as an example.  If your existing ball joints are ok then I would re-use them.  Save the $ for the axle upgrade and hope the factory ball joints last that long.

  3. scoped Subscriber
    #38 Sep 2017, 1:41 AM

    I would recommend against the alloy usa ones for sure - I know a couple people that seem to have good luck with the synergy but if your stockers show no wear I would continue on with those and bank for the axel upgrade as Kris has suggested. (That's about 1/5th the cost towards scoring a decent deal on a bolt in 44 jk take off)

    If you do proceed with the ball joints and don't have the tool O'Reilly has the far superior rental to auto zone in my experience - just make sure you get the 4wd adapter set as well

    If you have any questions just ask I think I'm on my 4th set of ball joints currently

  4. Brian Member Joined: February 2020
    #48 Sep 2017, 2:27 AM
    Jamie said I am starting to plan for the installation of my c-gussets and want to replace the ball joints at the same time.  At the end of the day I am just trying to get by on my Dana 30 until I figure out how serious of a hobby this is going to be for me and then upgrade from there, so I don't want to start investing in the high dollar rebuildable options.  And yes I now realize I should have just started with a Rubicon 🙂 Seems like most folks are just going with the Synergy's, anyone using another one in the $200 price range they like better?  I like the idea of the Teraflex adjustable ones, but grinding a notch in my axle shaft U-Joint so it will clear just does not feel like the best solution. Thanks!  

    I had gussets welded and still have the original ball joints. 60k miles. Maybe 10-12k since the welding. I have the teraflex gussests though..so different design that sort of is further away from ball joints.

    I have the teraflex ball joints sitting in my garage. I think the u-joint issue is for 14+ when they changed the material/ yoke to be fatter. And I think it only affected rubicon's but I could be wrong.

    W6JLU
  5. Nubby started this Webmaster K6NUB Joined: February 2018
    #59 Sep 2017, 1:57 AM

    And this is why I am really enjoying having a group of people to bounce things off of I feel like I can trust, random yahoos on the internet just aren't cutting it 🙂

    I really did not think I was that close in cost to a 44 bolt on, can't do it right now but I am not too far off.  Sounds like my best bet is to wheel the existing one as long as I can without investing more money then upgrade the whole thing later.

    Really appreciate all of the info!

    Jamie & Damaris

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