Offset Ball Joints?
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: London, ON
Offset Ball Joints?
I have a question regarding alignment, ball joints and control arms...
I purchased aftermarket greasable ball joints and took my Jeep in to have them installed today. The shop called me and asked if I had offset ball joints instead. The could not complete the alignment without the offset model. Apparently they could sell me other aftermarket offset ball joints for $179, instead of using the regular ones I provided. (We have had good luck with this shop for years. They have been honest and upfront about needed / un-needed repairs and maintenance on several company and personal vehicles. I don't have any reason to suspect them trying to push parts on me.)
I called the 4x4 shop I purchased the parts from to confirm that they were the proper part, no offset options existed, etc. Everything checked out there. I was told that offset ball joints would only give a couple of degrees of movement at best, and adjustable control arms would be a better solution.
I had the shop install the ball joints anyways, as the factory ones were getting to be in bad shape. The Jeep handled better on the drive home - no bump steer effect, no pulling under braking, no wandering or pulling left or right. It seemed the steering was more direct than before. All in all, an improved driving experience.
Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Why use offset ball joints? Are adjustable control arms worth looking into?
I purchased aftermarket greasable ball joints and took my Jeep in to have them installed today. The shop called me and asked if I had offset ball joints instead. The could not complete the alignment without the offset model. Apparently they could sell me other aftermarket offset ball joints for $179, instead of using the regular ones I provided. (We have had good luck with this shop for years. They have been honest and upfront about needed / un-needed repairs and maintenance on several company and personal vehicles. I don't have any reason to suspect them trying to push parts on me.)
I called the 4x4 shop I purchased the parts from to confirm that they were the proper part, no offset options existed, etc. Everything checked out there. I was told that offset ball joints would only give a couple of degrees of movement at best, and adjustable control arms would be a better solution.
I had the shop install the ball joints anyways, as the factory ones were getting to be in bad shape. The Jeep handled better on the drive home - no bump steer effect, no pulling under braking, no wandering or pulling left or right. It seemed the steering was more direct than before. All in all, an improved driving experience.
Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Why use offset ball joints? Are adjustable control arms worth looking into?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Leo, IN
I have a question regarding alignment, ball joints and control arms...
I purchased aftermarket greasable ball joints and took my Jeep in to have them installed today. The shop called me and asked if I had offset ball joints instead. The could not complete the alignment without the offset model. Apparently they could sell me other aftermarket offset ball joints for $179, instead of using the regular ones I provided. (We have had good luck with this shop for years. They have been honest and upfront about needed / un-needed repairs and maintenance on several company and personal vehicles. I don't have any reason to suspect them trying to push parts on me.)
I called the 4x4 shop I purchased the parts from to confirm that they were the proper part, no offset options existed, etc. Everything checked out there. I was told that offset ball joints would only give a couple of degrees of movement at best, and adjustable control arms would be a better solution.
I had the shop install the ball joints anyways, as the factory ones were getting to be in bad shape. The Jeep handled better on the drive home - no bump steer effect, no pulling under braking, no wandering or pulling left or right. It seemed the steering was more direct than before. All in all, an improved driving experience.
Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Why use offset ball joints? Are adjustable control arms worth looking into?
I purchased aftermarket greasable ball joints and took my Jeep in to have them installed today. The shop called me and asked if I had offset ball joints instead. The could not complete the alignment without the offset model. Apparently they could sell me other aftermarket offset ball joints for $179, instead of using the regular ones I provided. (We have had good luck with this shop for years. They have been honest and upfront about needed / un-needed repairs and maintenance on several company and personal vehicles. I don't have any reason to suspect them trying to push parts on me.)
I called the 4x4 shop I purchased the parts from to confirm that they were the proper part, no offset options existed, etc. Everything checked out there. I was told that offset ball joints would only give a couple of degrees of movement at best, and adjustable control arms would be a better solution.
I had the shop install the ball joints anyways, as the factory ones were getting to be in bad shape. The Jeep handled better on the drive home - no bump steer effect, no pulling under braking, no wandering or pulling left or right. It seemed the steering was more direct than before. All in all, an improved driving experience.
Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Why use offset ball joints? Are adjustable control arms worth looking into?
Last edited by Topkicker1; Sep 7, 2012 at 09:15 PM.