So, I'm getting ready to swap out my D30 with C gussets and Synergy greasable ball joints for a Dana 44. My question is, can the ball joints on my D30 be taken off and re-installed on my D44 without ruining them? Any advice from those of you who have been down this road before would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Nobody's been down this road that can chime in?

 

Typically balljoints are only made to be pressed in once and thats it. I'm not saying it can't be done as I've seen it done on older jeeps that peeps didn't use as a DD. I think this may also be one of the reasons dynatrac made theirs re-buildable without having to press them out. I have no experience with the senergy ones, maybe someone on here has done it, BUT if it were me, I'd get new ones because of the fact that some integrity of that ball joint has been lost if pressed,driven for miles over a period of time and then taken out and re-pressed in. Thats just me though, not ment as gospel.

 

I tend to agree with that. I don't have a technical reference to base it on, though.

 

I have not done this, however, when I emailed synergy customer service about installing their c gussets they recommended that I remove my synergy ball joints so the heat from welding wouldn't impact them. It would appear they are ok with taking them out and installing them at least in the same axle.

Josh

 

Thanks for chiming in guys...

Infinity - That's some great insight, and gives me a great idea that should have been obvious...call Synergy and ask them what they think- Thanks! I like the synergy balljoints so far, and yes- buying new ball joints is the obvious ideal answer, but at $250 to replace all of them, I would like to reuse the ones I've got, if at all possible.

 

I must agree with this statement. I'd be very worried that when pressing it out, I either bent it, or disfigured it in some way. Too risky and too much work to do again anytime soon if it didn't work. When dealing with something as vital as a suspension part or steering part, I'd always lean towards doing the safe thing....if there's doubt, then it's not worth the gamble.

 

Well to answer my question, the ball joints came out of the old axle and installed snugly in the new one. The key was having the proper ball joint press kit made specifically for solid front axles.

It can be done with patience and proper tools.

New d44 w/ nitro pound in sleeves, rcv's, evo c gussets and LCA skids all installed and doing well


-DW