Aftermarket ball joints?

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jeep_boy02
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Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:53 pm

Getting ready to tear into the front end. Have just over 120k miles on all factory components. I'm leaning towards synergy stuff, mainly ball joints and a track bar, may go with thuren on the bar. What's y'alls experience with the rebuildable bjs on the market and what/why would you reccomend?



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2010 black pearl(PXR) on 35s, bypass harness, gooseneck, CAI, 3" magnaflow catback, bulldog hemi GT.... more to come soon
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pdavey
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by pdavey » Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:40 pm

What year is your PW?

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2005 Dodge Power Wagon QC Black - "Laramie"
Performance Mods:
  • Comp 260 Camshaft, Upgraded Valve Springs, Forged Push Rods, JBA Shorties, Airaid Cold Air Intake, Gibson Dual Cat Exhast (Side Swept), National Speed Custom Tune
Other Mods:
  • Kenwood KVT-719 w/ Garmin Navigation and Kenwood Rear Camera, JL Stealth Sub
Suspension/Protection Mods:
  • Carli Upper "Bomb Proof" Ball Joints, NAPA Lower Ball Joints, Thuren Adj Track Bar, Thuren Adjusted Fox Damper, T-Style Steering Upgrade, New Power Steering Pump, 2012 Power Steering Motor Upgrade, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Rear Shocks -Stage 1, Thuren Off-set Control Arms, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Front Shocks -Stage 2, 35x12.50x17 Nitto Trail Grappler (previous tires Cooper STT), Carli Front Dif Gard,
Style/Other Mods:
  • KC LightBar Behind Tow Hooks Mount, 2 KC Slim Driving Lights, 2 KC Offroading Lights, Weatherguard Black Steel Truck Box, Winch TPS bypass, Warn Wireless Winch Module
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jeep_boy02
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:50 pm

'10 on 35s. Future 3" coils, LAs, and 37s

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2010 black pearl(PXR) on 35s, bypass harness, gooseneck, CAI, 3" magnaflow catback, bulldog hemi GT.... more to come soon
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pdavey
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by pdavey » Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:05 am

The Carli ball joints would be my suggestion on that rig. That said if you are at that mileage and the mopar ball joints worked that well why the hell not this another set in for half the price.

If you spend the extra money on a new track bar from Carli or Thuren and and a king steering damper from Thuren you may get 200K out of the next set of mopar ball joints.

The one thing about suspensions and big tires I have learned is rubber bushings are the devil.

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2005 Dodge Power Wagon QC Black - "Laramie"
Performance Mods:
  • Comp 260 Camshaft, Upgraded Valve Springs, Forged Push Rods, JBA Shorties, Airaid Cold Air Intake, Gibson Dual Cat Exhast (Side Swept), National Speed Custom Tune
Other Mods:
  • Kenwood KVT-719 w/ Garmin Navigation and Kenwood Rear Camera, JL Stealth Sub
Suspension/Protection Mods:
  • Carli Upper "Bomb Proof" Ball Joints, NAPA Lower Ball Joints, Thuren Adj Track Bar, Thuren Adjusted Fox Damper, T-Style Steering Upgrade, New Power Steering Pump, 2012 Power Steering Motor Upgrade, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Rear Shocks -Stage 1, Thuren Off-set Control Arms, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Front Shocks -Stage 2, 35x12.50x17 Nitto Trail Grappler (previous tires Cooper STT), Carli Front Dif Gard,
Style/Other Mods:
  • KC LightBar Behind Tow Hooks Mount, 2 KC Slim Driving Lights, 2 KC Offroading Lights, Weatherguard Black Steel Truck Box, Winch TPS bypass, Warn Wireless Winch Module
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RustyPW
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by RustyPW » Fri Mar 12, 2021 9:14 am

My Carli ball joints are still going strong. Have about 60,000 miles on them, and they are still tight. :rockon:
PWOC #53
2008 POWER WAGON RC

My build thread. http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2826 :cash: :cash:

Moab '09, '10, '12, '14, '20, '22
Rausch Creek - Summer '10, Spring-Fall '11, Spring '12, Summer '13, Summer '14, Summer '15, Summer '16, Summer '17, Summer '18, Summer '20, Summer '22, Summer '23, Summer '24,
AOAA Summer '19.

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VMAX
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by VMAX » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:32 am

I just installed the Carli ball joint at 75000 on the original Mopar ball joints on my 2012. running 35's and maybe going with 37's or bigger tire soon.
I plan on keeping this truck and thought it was a good investment / upgrade. I had no issue with them and no regrets.
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jeep_boy02
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:17 pm

So I did a little shop comparing last night...

Mopar - $306
Moog - $160
Tera-flex - $265
Synergy - $350
Carli - $800
Dynatrac - $800

At those price points not go synergy? Why are the carli and dynatrac ones twice as expensive? They are all 3 rebuildable, and unless you're cheap they seem the most sensible.

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SeppW
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by SeppW » Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:35 pm

EMF are rebuildable too. Would be the last ball joints installed. OEM are pretty good too if price point is a consideration. Assume this is a DIY chore. The last time I had ball joints replaced on a 2500 'Burb was $900 parts and labor, 15 years ago. I bet it's significantly more today.
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RustyPW
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by RustyPW » Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:17 pm

Stay away from any ball joints that are splined unless you want to ruin your axle. The splines on the ball joint ruin the hole that the joint sits in.
PWOC #53
2008 POWER WAGON RC

My build thread. http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2826 :cash: :cash:

Moab '09, '10, '12, '14, '20, '22
Rausch Creek - Summer '10, Spring-Fall '11, Spring '12, Summer '13, Summer '14, Summer '15, Summer '16, Summer '17, Summer '18, Summer '20, Summer '22, Summer '23, Summer '24,
AOAA Summer '19.

Russ
NRA - Benefactor, Golden Eagle. :lockedandloaded:
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jeep_boy02
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:40 pm

I believe EMF makes Carli's, so they're probably the same. And yes the splines or knurled BJs are only for use in a hole that a smoothie is loose in.

I have still yet to jack the front up and test any of the joints, hubs, etc so this is just a shopping comparison and questionnaire. But I'll most likely go with the synergy ones.

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2010 black pearl(PXR) on 35s, bypass harness, gooseneck, CAI, 3" magnaflow catback, bulldog hemi GT.... more to come soon
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RustyPW
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by RustyPW » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:49 am

jeep_boy02 wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:40 pm
 I believe EMF makes Carli's, so they're probably the same. And yes the splines or knurled BJs are only for use in a hole that a smoothie is loose in.

I have still yet to jack the front up and test any of the joints, hubs, etc so this is just a shopping comparison and questionnaire. But I'll most likely go with the synergy ones.

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EMF doesn't make the Carli joints. Carli was the first on the market with the ball joints and are not rebuildable.
PWOC #53
2008 POWER WAGON RC

My build thread. http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2826 :cash: :cash:

Moab '09, '10, '12, '14, '20, '22
Rausch Creek - Summer '10, Spring-Fall '11, Spring '12, Summer '13, Summer '14, Summer '15, Summer '16, Summer '17, Summer '18, Summer '20, Summer '22, Summer '23, Summer '24,
AOAA Summer '19.

Russ
NRA - Benefactor, Golden Eagle. :lockedandloaded:
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Ak68w
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by Ak68w » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:11 am

I did the EMF’s probably 20k ago and have had no trouble.
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jeep_boy02
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:13 am

RustyPW wrote:
jeep_boy02 wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 14, 2021 11:40 pm
 I believe EMF makes Carli's, so they're probably the same. And yes the splines or knurled BJs are only for use in a hole that a smoothie is loose in.

I have still yet to jack the front up and test any of the joints, hubs, etc so this is just a shopping comparison and questionnaire. But I'll most likely go with the synergy ones.

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EMF doesn't make the Carli joints. Carli was the first on the market with the ball joints and are not rebuildable.
Must of been thinking Thurens then but Thuren just sells EMF... IDK.

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coder
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by coder » Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:53 pm

I have Dynatrac ball joints on my truck. I got 10 years and them for 150k miles out of them before I rebuild them last summer. The lowers where a little loose the uppers were still tight. I put a fair amount of hard off road driving on them and them and they held up very well, I highly recommend them.
Vehicle: 2007 Power Wagon Quad Cab - Factory Options (Inferno Red, Premium Cloth Bench Seat, Light Group, Automatic Transmission, Leather Steering Wheel)
Suspension: Carli 3" Hemi Coils, Carli Control Arms, Carli King 2.5 Pin-Tops, Carli Stainless Steering Stabilizer, Carli Trackbar | Synergy 1" Rear Shackle
Performance: Magnaflow Muffler | Magnaflow Y-Pipe
Wheels/Tires: Yokohama X-A/T 35x12.5x17
Steering/Drivetrain/Axles: Carli Front Diff Guard | Dynatrac Ball Joints | Mopar HD Steering Gear
Miscellaneous: Line-X Bedliner | Locker Bypass Switch | Mopar Rock Rails | Odyssey Extreme 65-PC1750T | Performance Friction Brake Pads | Weathertech Digital Fit Mats | Winch Thermal Protection Bypass
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jeep_boy02
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Re: Aftermarket ball joints?

Post by jeep_boy02 » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:47 pm

Thanks for the reply coder. I remember you from before, good to see you still around. Right now I just can't justify $800 for ball joints, but half that I can

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