ball joints bad almost immediately after install!

[FHfirefighter]

Hi, just wanted some opinions on this situation:
I took my '97 4x4 in for an alignment and the guy said he couldn't do it because the lower ball joints were shot. This is odd because I just replaced them a few thousand miles ago... (can't remember exactly when it was, but it was certainly less than 5k, probably more like 2 or 3) ...I'm not an "80 year old grandma driving to and from the grocery store" kind of driver, but I wasn't doing ramp jumps or rock crawling or anything during that time either...point is, the ball joints shouldn't have worn out that fast...also, I don't think the mechanic was trying to pull one over on me because I told him straight up that if anything needs to be done I was going to do it anyway, so it wasn't an issue of him trying to sell me anything (if anything he lost money on the deal because he didn't get to do the alignment). Basically, he said I had put on too cheap of a ball joint for a 4 wheel drive vehicle. he also said the upper ball joints were getting worn as well which contributes to wear on the lowers...

...so my plan is:
1. replace the lower ball joints AGAIN, this time with the best set I can find (recommendations?)
2. replace the hubs
3. replace the upper ball joints/steering arm assembly thing

does this make sense? what I'm trying to do is replace everything that might be going bad and contributing to excess wear on the lower ball joints so this doesn't happen again. i would also appreciate advice on good replacement ball joints (at least OEM-level, preferably better)...

thanks!
-jason

 

['97 V8]

moog, they have the best and come with lifetime warrenties.

 

[gluvsave35]

yes moog is the best and make sure if it has a grease fitting to GREASE IT

i know alot of so called mechanics who dont grease front ends and thats y they go bad!!!

 

[FHfirefighter]

thanks guys, have heard of those alot, don't know why I didn't think of that...

The ones I put on originally didn't come with grease fittings, but I did inject a bunch of grease using an injector needle. Like I said, I guess I need to do it right this time instead of just getting the cheapest ones at autozone...

 

[11lariat]

another vote for moog, and as said, make sure you grease them!

 

[96FordExploder]

Jack the frontend up and check for play in the wheel. It shouldn't wiggle and should be solid. If there is loose movement, even just slightly, your ball joints or hub may be bad. I've got to replace my front driver-side hub.... Got a good 3 years out of it. I went ahead and put Moog joints in and they're still good.

 

[ExploringNC]

You may want to check to see if they where put in correctly. I found out after I put mine in that there is a front and back to the Ball Joint.

 

[FHfirefighter]

a front and back? hm, don't remember seeing anything like that...seemed pretty straightforward, but I suppose that it is possible I put them in wrong. I'll keep that in mind when I put the new ones in...

 

[carlover]

i just did a complete ball joint replacement a few weeks ago. if my memory serves me right there is no way to put the lower ball joint in wrong. The spindle wouldnt re-attach if it wasnt put it correctly. It could be you just got a bad set of cheap balljoints. I used something similiar to moog with the zerk grease fittings.

 

[01EB5.0]

I had a shop tell me the same thing but they misdiagnosed the play in the suspension. My inner tie rod was worn causing clunks on bumps and a little play when they went to work on it. I put 4 Moog ball joints on 10,000 miles ago si I knew it wasn;t them, then he said it was my hub, but i replaced both hubs too, today I am replacing all 4 tie rod joints (inner and outer) with Moog.

 

[FHfirefighter]

carlover, i agree with you; i don't think there's a wrong way to put them in without it being really obviously wrong...

01EB5.0 - this is very interesting...maybe my mechanic misdiagnosed it too...i mean, i've heard plenty of advice on how to check for bad ball joints, but then I also see the same tests recommended for tie rods and wheel bearings. if there's inappropriate play in your tires/suspension, how do you narrow it down to ball joints (upper/lower) vs tie rods (inner/outer) vs wheel bearings?? (without just saying to hell with it and replacing everything, which is what i'm on the verge of doing...)

 

[carlover]

I just said hell with it and replaced everything. But i actually forgot to replace the inner tie rods. Im hoping they arent bad but i do seem to have some play still with the wheels. I might have to go back in there and replace the inners. Just gonna wait till after i install my new intermidiate steering shaft to see what everything feels like. Id take it to another alignment shop and see what they tell you.

 

[indecloudzUA]

i installed some moogs on both sides upper and lower...and then 2 weeks later my x gets totaled!!!and i nearly die...but they were good for me and like everyone says you get the lifetime warranty and you can grease em...

 

[FHfirefighter]

update...

Ok, to be sure I went out and double-checked everything down there. turns out there's play in the pass. side, but not driver's, which may seem weird, but makes sense when you consider that I replaced the driver's side hub assembly at the same time i did the ball joints but not the pass. side...i know that sounds dumb, but the reason was I was trying to trouble-shoot a sound by replacing one thing at a time...long story short i replaced the driver's side hub but realized nothing was really wrong with the hubs in the first place so i didn't bother with the pass. side...
...but now it seems that the pass. side hub is bad because that's the only difference between the two sides, and like i said pass. side wiggles up and down alot with a crow bar under the tire, but driver's side is solid.

i will also still probably replace the upper ball joints as well (with MOOGs) as they are orginial and the rubber housing is deteriorated and cracked so they are probably on their way out as well

...the interesting thing is i think i can safely conclude the problem was NOT the lower balljoints as the mechanic had said...replacing this stuff (pass. hub, upper BJs) should confirm that if it illiminates the play in the pass. side...then i can get the alignment i was looking for in the first place

anyway, thanks for the help and advice...