What have you done to your JK this week? 2.5M Views

[Paul-JK]

Originally Posted by mick666

Should be no slop between the ball and the socket inside the ball joint.

This is what I would have thought bearing in mind we look for zero movement when fitted as a sign that the ball joints are still OK.
When I fitted the ones I now have I had a choice of 2 (and I can't remember what the brands were). One brand had the upper ball joint designed to allow the pin to move up and down which just seemed wrong (the movement was just up/down, there was no side to side movement). The other brand had no movement at all in the upper ball joint so that's the one I picked. Teraflex appear to have designed there's in a similar fashion to the first ones I looked at, to allow vertical movement in the upper joint.
On the one hand I can see that this movement will compensate for any inaccuracies in the axle C and therefore potentially put less stress on the ball joints if the C is slightly out of shape, but surely it will also mean that once the lower joint starts to go (which presumably it will eventually even with a good brand) then the upper joint is unable to offer any secondary support so you will see far more rapid degradation of the lower joint and the stability of the wheel.
I'm not an engineer but designing movement into the upper joints just seems wrong to me.
I have no idea how the Synergy ones are designed as I've not seen them but at this stage I think I'll just go with them as they get universally good reviews.

[SeaComms]

Synergy are exactly the same. They all need to allow for vertical movement in the top ball joint, its just the way the vehicle is designed with the bottom ball joint supporting the entire load. It not only allows for build discrepancies it also allows for flex in the C which will happen under load.



Personally after seeing the Teraflex ones with the adjustable preload for when they do wear I will be going with them for what I think will be a very long term solution.



The Alloy USA ones are also advertised as an adjustable preload, however, this is a factory adjusted preload then locked in place by hammering a dint or two in the top of the thread, whereas the Teraflex is adjusted then locked in place by a few grub screws so can be adjusted at a later stage if/when required and whilst still fully installed (you can see this in the still pic of the video above).

Alloy USA:


Not bashing the others or a raving Teraflex fan (in fact returned one of the two Teraflex products I ever bought as it had a massive design flaw!), I just think for long term they seem the best solution.

[Paul-JK]

Originally Posted by SeaComms

Synergy are exactly the same. They all need to allow for vertical movement in the top ball joint, its just the way the vehicle is designed with the bottom ball joint supporting the entire load, thats why its a lot bigger. It not only allows for build discrepancies it also allows for flex in the C which will happen under load.

Looks like my theory was flawed then, and the decision to use the ones without any movement might be the reason why they've gone again so quickly. Ah well, you live and learn.

[walldog]

Originally Posted by Percy28

Went 4wding to Glasshouse, finally trashed the stock sidesteps (good excuse to finish building sliders), tore off driveshaft boot and ripped off number plate. Was quietly surprised with how well the jeep went, pretty much went wherever I wanted to go (didn't do little red as didn't want to trash my sills).

What's little red looking like these days? Did you nose up to big red for a pose shot ? [emoji1]


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[SeaComms]

Not directly to the Jeep yet, but got the last bits of my hard top hoist in the post today, hopefully should have it set up tomorrow!

Stuff doing it the hard way when a 240v 250kg winch is less than a hand wound brake winch ($88 delivered overnight)!



Winch will mount at the far end (just below the truss).



Ropes are currently attached to each end of a tool box just to keep them tight and test it.

[furkew]

Originally Posted by SeaComms

Not directly to the Jeep yet, but got the last bits of my hard top hoist in the post today, hopefully should have it set up tomorrow!

Stuff doing it the hard way when a 240v 250kg winch is less than a hand wound brake winch ($88 delivered overnight)!



Winch will mount at the far end (just below the truss).



Ropes are currently attached to each end of a tool box just to keep them tight and test it.

just bought a new house with room finally for a big shed, and that might be one of the first mods to get the PIA hard top stowed away.

[Zepha900]

Put 1200kms on her driving to Coffs Harbour and back again with the family (from Sunshine Coast). Will definitely upgrade the suspension for a smoother ride though - a little rough in parts. Question though, did a u-turn and drove over a small concrete garden edge and heard a small "clunk" in the left front, later on driving down the road and heard an even bigger "clunk" from a similar area.. Steering wasnt affected and no noticeable changes to driving performance. Drove all the way home without any issues but maybe i should get it checked out?!?