Probably all the KJs would need front upper and lower ball joints replaced by now, CRDs and petols. Of course, Jeep said they were life-time lubricated ball joints, but that really means "till the end of your warranty". And anyway they would not have covered any that had their boots split by rocks on the Birdsville track or elsewhere.
So what are the options for replacements? Good Old Jeepin By Al in the USA still makes his special front upper control arms. They were originally intended for lifted KJs (as the alter the running angle slightly to improve alignment and help avoid spring coil strike), but I think he also makes them for stock height KJs (but email them if that interest you). Importantly, these arms come with chassis bushings and replaceable ball joints.
https://jeepinbyal.com/jeep-liberty-...er-a-arms.html
The JBA arms have changed a little over the years, the bal joint mounting plate in the current arms looks alittle different to mine (which are probably close to 10 years old now). Importantly, the ball joints supplied are greaseable and can be replaced if necessary (unlike the stock ones).
You can source fairly cheap stock upper control arms (with bal joints pressed in) from IDParts:
https://www.idparts.com/jeep-liberty...98-p-6143.html
Lower balljoints are a different matter. Like the original upper arms, the lower ball joints are pressed into the arm, and they are harder to remove and replace. It requires the removal of the lower control arm, in itself a fairly big job. I think I wrote this up when I did mine about two years ago, search if your interested. Anyway the replacement ball joint that I used at that time was the Moog "Problem Solver", in the KJ size, which I believe I srouced from Rockauto:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...tkn48fRJYAY%3D
They are also availabe through IDParts:
https://www.idparts.com/jeep-liberty...67-p-6142.html
I noticed that they also appear on Amazon.
Importantly, these Moog lower balljoints include a grease nipple and thus can be regreased. They should last longer that the stock ones.
I am very happy with the Moog lower front Balljoints on my CRD, no noise or slop at all, whereas the stock ones used to sqeak alot.
I am probably due to replace my front upper balljoints in my JBA arms but its a pretty easy to just regrease them for now.
Other comments and sources welcome for discussion.
BTW if your not up to tackling the job, particularly the lower arm removal, you could try a suspension specialist like Peddars, but it will likely be pretty costly as they will want to charge an hourly rate for the work, and the disassembly to get the arm out to press out the old balljoint takes some time. If they can press it out in place with portable hydraulic device that would be pretty easy but I don't know if they have such a device.
Balljoints - Front Upper and Lower Replace
