resharp001

Sorry Chris, TB = track bar, TR = tie rod, adn DL = drag link. Also, if you ordered Teraflex ball joints, there's nothing wrong with those. Those are probably perfect for you actually. For what it looks like your use might end up being, $500 ball joints are going to be way overkill. Don't start thinking that a $200+ BJ is bad or anything. We all have different builds, different uses, different budgets, and different experiences. I have Dynatracs and I like them. I wheel pretty hard and I have my reasons why I ended up on Dynatracs, but if you were just asking for BJ advice and explaned your use....as I'm starting to see, I'd suggest more along the lines of TF ball joints. Realistically, you shouldn't need to worry about those again for a long time. Also, even though the Dynatrac BJs are rebuildable......take a look at the cost of the rebuild kits . Sorry Dynatrac......I recommend you guys when appropriate!

To expand on some forum abbreviations, MC = Metalcloak, RK = Rock Krawler, RE = Rubicon Express, RC = Rough Country, TF = Teraflex

Dynatrac

Thanks for installing Dynatrac heavy duty ball joints on your Jeep, and were happy, though not surprised, that you've had such a good experience with them. It's customers like you who we design and build are parts for, people who want to enjoy off-roading and their vehicles without having the distraction of wondering if something will break as they climb the next obstacle, or leave them stranded on the side of the trail.

On the cost of the rebuild kits, when was the last time you bought one? We recently lowered the cost of our rebuild kits for the JKs to $129 dollars. Compared to the cost of buying a second set of aftermarket ball joints, along with the cost of having them pressed out and back in to the knuckle, the new rebuild kit cost means Dynatrac ball joints pay for themselves after only one or two rebuilds, if ever necessary. As we're sure you know, ball joint lifespan/wear has no set or regular interval. It all depends on the usage, specs of the particular Jeep, and driving style of the owner.

That being said, even for someone who is not going to be wheeling hard at this time, if a Jeep owner can afford to install the best parts available, why shouldn't he? It never hurts to have a set of ball joints that are more than one might possibly need, but it can hurt to have a set of ball joints that are just enough. And, if an owner decides he wants to up his off-roading game and push his limits more, the parts giving him the capability to do so are already installed and capable of handling it.

Ryan0260

I highly recommend the Dynatrac HD ball joints. The build quality is top notch, and being rebuildable makes for a very good investment. Absolutely no complaints with mine.

resharp001

You've not had to hear from me yet! Although I'm only 2 years in, as much as I like you, I hope it's a long time coming!

I would probably put that more at 3 rebuilds....but only cuz I'd like to think that MOST people here are doing their own work rather than paying for labor on jobs like this ($500 up front and roughly $260 per rebuild vs. $250 for a complete set of mid-line BJs).....otherwise they'd likely not be tye type to be here....but I digress. By no means am I downtalking Dynatrac, cuz yo da snizzle! I just know that for most of us budget strapped joes, there are so many things to think about in regards to a build.....and someone with a stock or fairly stock vehicle has so many things to keep in mind that they often don't have the luxury of committing a large part of what is typically a skinny budget, to ball joints....which let's face it....really isn't very sexy .

I'd also give Dynatrac customer service an A+. I have asked questions before and have gotten very timely responses that were more than satisfactory.

Maybe it's time that Dynatrac sponsor me a couple ProRock 60s!

Seizer

Woah woah woah... Me first Resharp. This was my thread! Besides they could test them out on a stock 2D.

larry0071

For the terrain your talking about, Colorado mining roads and daily driver use... the stock axle was fine. That is not terrain that warrants upgrading axles. Even with 37" tires on a D30 your pretty well set with stock/factory D30.

Until you start leaving the typical Colorado mining roads left over from 100 years ago that are commonly traveled by Jeeps, trucks, Subarus cars and the occasional Chevy Cobalt (Yes, I was in 4-Lo on a Colorado mining road and I come across a young couple in a Cobalt way the F up a Colorado mining road and above the tree line! It really made me feel silly!) and start going rock crawling or driving hooligan style... your stock axle was plenty. All of your upgrades are because you convinced yourself that you needed them, not because you actually needed them. Sleeves are a total joke, so just forget that. Those are for people not capable of getting A) A truss. or B)An aftermarket axle housing.... and they really do next to nothing. Adding ID to a pipe does not do well when calculating area moment of inertia (bending forces). Adding to the OD does, but again... you never needed it. You ball joints were fine unless they wore out. Your axle housing and C's are fine. Your shafts and gears are fine. Move on. When/if you decide to start playing foolishly (I do this, and I get a hoot out of it) you'll need to start upgrading.

Monte417

You going this weekend? I saw your jeep out there a few times

larry0071

If asking about Colorado? No I am in PA currently.

Rausch Creek... A group of us will be there the Sept 8/9 weekend.
Next weekend, Doe Valley Off Road.
Phoenix Off-Road for sure the next open weekend that Jeeps are allowed.
Colorado is once a year, so not going to be out in the MOAB Utah / Ouray/Telluride Colorado area again until late July 2018.

Monte417

Talking about rausch. Going this be a shit show but still fun and for a good cause. Make it a point to go to this event every year

larry0071

I stay away from the TAT, far to many Jeepers that clog up the place and ruin my ability to have fun. We usually have picked out certain reds that we want to hit, so we will green as fast as we can to the blacks/reds, then do the thing we want and get back out and green it to the next black/red as quick as we can. We typically run a group of 5-8 Jeeps that all have been running RC together for a few years, we all meet Thursday night at the Comfort Inn, wheel Friday/Saturday, take off Sunday morning for home. It's about a 5.5 hour drive for me to get there, so I try and make the trip worth it by hitting all of the nastiest things they have. I love that place. If your a black/red kind of guy, your welcome to join us in Sept.