Digging up this glorious experience from the past. This rebuild was on my previous axle, and seems around 2019 is when I did my last axle swap to a PR44 front and PR60 full-float rear. That front axle came with these wonderful ball joints installed, and with the rebuild kits for them. Well, I think these ball joints have been shot for a long long time but hydro assist really covers things up and I've been too lazy, or unwilling to accept, that these were toast. The jeep has spent so much time laid up in the garage and not used all that much, which just exacerbates issues like this. Not like when you're using a rig as a daily driver and you're really in-tune with things every little weird feeling while driving.

Anyhow, the long and short of it is that I refuse to go through this rebuild process again, even though I have the kits and it would essentially be "free" to do. Nope, not going there again. I was going to order Rare Parts joints but then I saw that Metalcloak has joints these days that have taken an additional step over RP in that they lowers are also rebuildable on the jeep. It looks like these MC joints are the best thing going these days, and I've never been disappointed by any of their products, so that is what is going in. It's been a long time since messing around with ball joints.....I forgot how fun it was. Anytime I can get more opportunity to mess with these Spyntec hubs along the way is just a joy as well

The patient is prepped and ready for transplant later today.

 

I too have these ball joints and have always wondered what the lifespan would be on them as well as the rebuild process. I ordered them with my PR44. My Jeep isn't a daily driver so time will tell when I have tackle this but so far so good.

 

I really like these Metalcloak joints. The uppers are primarily a version of the Rare Parts design, but they went over and above Rare Parts in making the lowers rebuildable as well. I really like the internal design on both the RP and MC joints. The rebuild process on these is so much easier, though I'd be shocked if I ever get to the point of having to rebuild them.