do bad ball joints make any noise?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
From: kunkletown, PA
do bad ball joints make any noise?
like the title says...upon takeoff from a stop if the ball joints are bad will they make a pop or thud or anything? i have new ones on hand and just waiting till mine go to replace em...just about to hit 75,000 miles now on the OD...
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Some Place in Africa
your at 75k and haven't replaced your ball joints? you'll see that most people replace their ball joints in the 40k mileage range.
see this thread:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ront-end.-Help
see this thread:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ront-end.-Help
Last edited by Pluke the 2; Sep 17, 2010 at 04:02 PM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Some Place in Africa
stu-offroad.com/axle/balljoint/balljoint-1.htm
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...Joint-Write-Up
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...Joint-Write-Up
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
You should perform a ball joint inspection.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060" (1.5mm).
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050" (1.25mm).
A dial indicator is the best instrument to measure ball joint play.
It can be done with a tape measure, but not as accurately.
Jack the front tire off the ground.
Place a jack stand under the axle next to the jack.
Lower to put some weight on the jack stand.
Place a long pry bar under the tire, from the side.
Have someone pry the tire up and down while you watch the lower ball joint for up and down play.
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050"
Have someone grab the tire at top and bottom to wiggle the top in and out while you watch the upper joint for side play.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060"
Even if the upper joint checks good, change both if the lower checks bad.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060" (1.5mm).
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050" (1.25mm).
A dial indicator is the best instrument to measure ball joint play.
It can be done with a tape measure, but not as accurately.
Jack the front tire off the ground.
Place a jack stand under the axle next to the jack.
Lower to put some weight on the jack stand.
Place a long pry bar under the tire, from the side.
Have someone pry the tire up and down while you watch the lower ball joint for up and down play.
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050"
Have someone grab the tire at top and bottom to wiggle the top in and out while you watch the upper joint for side play.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060"
Even if the upper joint checks good, change both if the lower checks bad.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
From: kunkletown, PA
thanx for the replies and help guys...greatly appreciate it.
guess i gotts take the plunge and replace em and stop being afraid of doing it...
i will post my results after i finish...
guess i gotts take the plunge and replace em and stop being afraid of doing it...
i will post my results after i finish...
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
as mentioned, do a check before you start pulling anything apart. no need to do work if you don't have to. as far as write-ups go, this is about the best one i've seen for a jk:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-Joint-Install
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-Joint-Install