Hi all,

2000 XJ with D30 front axle

I'm changing out my front U-joints and want to do my ball joints while I'm in there. I'm looking for brand reviews. I checked out other forum posts, and most recommend Spicer or Moog, but when I check the reviews on Amazon they are just generally good. For every 2 good reviews, there's one saying a year or so in and they already have play/movement.





I'm leaning towards Spicer anyway, but I'd hate to get them installed and have to do it again in a couple years.

 

Get spicer

 

You'll find reviews all over the spectrum on anything if you care to look.

I'll recommend Spicer. It's original equipment.

 

Spicer, Moog (Federal-Mogul), TRW, et al have been making ball joints since their inception. All three have excellent reputations in the trade. All ball joints (and other suspension parts) wear with use, and develop play. Some BJ's have a specification for play, for example the early Mustangs (64-1/2 thru early 70's), & Falcons had a factory spec of 0.25" of play (yep, a quarter of an inch). Remember, frequent maintenance/greasing will extend their life, but severe impacts (rock crawling), frequent immersion in water (fording streams), and dusty environments (desert, gravel pits) will destroy BJs (and other steering & suspension parts). Just a fact of life.

 

Thanks guys, sounds like I'll go with Spicer. I've used their parts (and plenty of Moog parts) in many suspension applications. I think I'll go with a the Spicer, hopefully it lasts at least 5 years without getting too sloppy.

 

Just got the parts in, I went with Spicer. Looks like only the top ball joints have grease fittings, do the bottoms not need to be greased?

 

They come packed with grease but it probably wouldn't hurt to throw a little under the grease boot after they're pressed in. No oem style lower ball joints are greaseable as far as I know, some come with a fitting that you grease and then remove and put a little threaded cap in the hole once you're ready to put in the axle shafts because the u joint ears on the shafts will hit the lower bj grease fitting so theirs really no point to greaseable lowers anyway, unless you get the $200 synergy ones that have a special design.

 

Spicer. Top joint is greasable, bottom is not