Ball Joints, UCA and a Squeak (With Pictures)

[sr3tlaw]

Still very new to doing my own car work and need some advice. There's a nice squeak starting to come from the passenger side suspension area. I do have an ICON Stage I kit with stock UCA. Upon inspecting the problem I've isolated the noise to the passenger side when I rock the car back and forth. I've seen the damage and aftermath broken ball-joints can cause and its not something I'd like to happen. From the pictures above can someone tell me what could be the culprit?

If it is in fact the ball joints I'd like to go the cheapest, most reliable route (MOOG?). New UCA are an option but still I don't want to brake the bank. Camburg makes some decent UCA with MOOG ball-joints built in for ~$600, so that idea I like. ICON UCA are really just a pipe-dream at almost $1200.

RH Upper Ball Joint


RH Lower Ball Joint


LH Upper Ball Joint


LH Lower Ball Joint
​

 

[Tooltime19]

I recently replaced my upper and lower ball joints. I also replaced both outer tie rod ends, and all with MOOG parts. My truck feels like brand new. I reset the toe and away I went. If you have a ball joint press, the job is cumbersome but worth it in the end.

 

[taxzz]

Still very new to doing my own car work and need some advice.

The only advice I have is to rent the ball joint tool since you probably won't need it a second time. That and to take pictures of the process since I am considering doing my own soon haha.

 

[Morphyne]

Those look like my ball joints. I saw a great how to video on youtube. I was on a Mazda but the process is pretty universal. Does not look bad at all. I am waiting to the the bushings as well and the ball joints and tie rod ends.

But if it is just moog ball joints hit up rock auto. They have them for about $25 a piece.

 

[Drunner97]

I'm pretty happy with my Camburgs. If you're going to go that route though, make sure you grease the bushings well when you're pushing them in. I didn't grease mine that great (didn't know wtf I was doing) and they got a little noisy at first. Pretty quiet right now but I'll probably be redoing my bushings at some point this summer.

 

[sr3tlaw]

Those look like my ball joints. I saw a great how to video on youtube. I was on a Mazda but the process is pretty universal. Does not look bad at all. I am waiting to the the bushings as well and the ball joints and tie rod ends.

But if it is just moog ball joints hit up rock auto. They have them for about $25 a piece.

So is it time to replace from what you can see? Think I can get away with just the ball joints and no UCA?

 

[Morphyne]

I am no expert by any means but if money is tight I would say replace the ball joints and call it good. And if you have a problem getting within alignment specs, go for some new UCAs.

Here are some viedos by chrisfix that I found very useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9O_cOB2MTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3SJwitttwo