Ball joints procedure
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 393
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From: new york
Model: Cherokee
My advice is not to try to bang em out. Go to autozone, rent a ball joint press and save yourself a lot of effort and busted knuckles. I just replaced my uppers and lowers last week and it took about 2 hours with the press and taking my time. P.S. don't be surprised when they finally give and you hear a shotgun blast and see sparks lol.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 4
Model: Cherokee
Yes you need to open the differential to drain the fluid. And yes you *could* damage the seal if you aren't careful putting the shaft back in (
).
It's amazing, I searched "how to replace ball joints on a Dana 30" on Google and came up with many fantastic results. Here is one good one. But you should try doing that yourself.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ball...alljoint-1.htm
).It's amazing, I searched "how to replace ball joints on a Dana 30" on Google and came up with many fantastic results. Here is one good one. But you should try doing that yourself.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ball...alljoint-1.htm
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,219
Likes: 45
From: west chester, pa
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
My advice is not to try to bang em out. Go to autozone, rent a ball joint press and save yourself a lot of effort and busted knuckles. I just replaced my uppers and lowers last week and it took about 2 hours with the press and taking my time. P.S. don't be surprised when they finally give and you hear a shotgun blast and see sparks lol.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 3
From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Go to seriousoffroadproducts.com and buy 2 sets of the Spicer ball joints. It'll be a little over $100 shipped. Great price and probably best quality out there
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,219
Likes: 45
From: west chester, pa
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
I thought spicer was at bottom of the ladder when it come to quality?
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,219
Likes: 45
From: west chester, pa
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
Sorry to get off the point, I was reading about doing the WJ knuckle conversion. I'm little lost, will it fit on the xj axle with same ball joints? Or do I have to cut off the whole thing from the axle and weld it on the xj axle?
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
Wanna step up to a heavy duty joint?
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...J-YJ-XJ-ZJ-4PC
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: junction city,Ohio
Year: 2000 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Don't use the cheapy balljoints Advance auto sells, spend some extra bucks and buy some Moog Balljoints They are pricey 79 bucks at Advance.But I found them for $40 on amazon
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
I got my ball joints from rockauto.com they were sold in sets, 1 upper and 1 lower per set. I also got a track bar and the total was under $160.
They were not cheapie Ball joints but also not top of the line. Check them out for great pricing.
Just checked they are Dana Spicer ball joints and they were $51 and change for a set.
They were not cheapie Ball joints but also not top of the line. Check them out for great pricing.
Just checked they are Dana Spicer ball joints and they were $51 and change for a set.
Last edited by dBusteR; May 10, 2013 at 11:29 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 6
From: Northern MN
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: Renix 4.0
Originally Posted by dBusteR
I got my ball joints from rockauto.com they were sold in sets, 1 upper and 1 lower per set. I also got a track bar and the total was under $160.
They were not cheapie Ball joints but also not top of the line. Check them out for great pricing.
They were not cheapie Ball joints but also not top of the line. Check them out for great pricing.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,219
Likes: 45
From: west chester, pa
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
I jacked up the axle on one side, inserted the prybar between floor and tire and keep pushing it, the ball joints seem to not be budging. Then repeated on other side. Both seem fine, is there any other way to check ball joints?
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
With my case I had quite a bit of free play in the steering, weird free play that is to where I would turn one way then it would go and then turning back the other way it would go a bit then turn. Weird free play
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 638
Likes: 16
From: Midwest
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I'm probably going to need to do this soon. Not really something I'm looking forward to. Of course, anything that might require a BFH is not on my "fun crap to do" list. But even with new drag link, tie rods, and a fresh alignment right when I bought new tires, I still have some abnormal wear on the front. Kind of a "feathering" of the treadblocks. I've heard that adjustable ball joints will fix this. Anyone tried them yet?