upper ball joint
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fish0281
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I don't think an UBJ failure is as catastrophic as the LBJ because the weight of the truck keeps them together - it's basically an inverted LBJ. So, when the LBJ fails there's nothing left to hold it together and the truck comes crashing down. When the UBJ fails, it'll probably stay together and just feel/sound like crap. Even if it did seprate, the coilover would probaby keep everything safely in place (assuming you're not driving it like a sports car).
JohnsD90
New member
Except for the massive amount of camber you will get because the hub is only connected at one point and will collapse into the rest of the suspension system. I can imagine that the car becomes undrivable the instant it happens.
LDForget
New member
The upper ball joints on Fightman80's were completely dry and full of **** when we took it off yesterday. Im sure they werent far from failure.
mien4x4
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was it making a lot of clunking noise when driving over lumps n little pot holes?
fish0281
New member
Yeah, but the wheel isn't likely to fall off and the entire front of the truck slam to the pavement taking out various other parts in the mean time. It's also not likely the thing would completely sheer off either. The only point I was making is that it's not set up like the LBJ and won't fail in the same manner.
BrianSD_42
New member
I'd like to see pics of your failing UBJ if you cantake them.
I have 211k miles on my UBJs but I replacedbthe lowers at 150k miles. I had the whole suspension inspected several months ago and was told my uppers are fine and not a danger like the LBJs get.
I have 211k miles on my UBJs but I replacedbthe lowers at 150k miles. I had the whole suspension inspected several months ago and was told my uppers are fine and not a danger like the LBJs get.
LDForget
New member
i dont believe it was. It was very very loose though.
ryankmasuda
New member
I just pressed out my factory UBJ's today and they were in great shape. I'm pushing 186k too. My boots were good and the grease wasn't too bad. I even took a sledge hammer to it and it didn't budge nor fail in any way. I highly doubt a UBJ would fail under normal use.
mien4x4
New member
Ok ill post some pics up tommorow but the boots are torn though and I can see grease coming out of it
mien4x4
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TheeMikeB
New member
The clunking could be the top of your spindle/balljoint clipping on the front coil spring. Take a look at your spring and make sure it doesn't have fresh scratch marks.
It happens if you lift the front too much therefore pressing the UCA down so far that it 'caves into' the coil on full flex. If that makes sense, it happened on my Tundra when I first lifted it because I had my coil overs adjusted to high.
mien4x4
New member
Yea it makes sense thanks mike una check on that tommorow hopefully that's whats causing the noise.
mien4x4
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yea i checked the springs and do not see any marks or scraps from the spindle/balljoint
LittleCaesar
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How about your CV joints? Control arm bushings?
TheeMikeB
New member
From the looks of those pics, for sure you have one going out. That's torn/split and fresh grease coming out. It needs to be replaced. The others aren't as bad but they are 'sweating' grease and if you are gonna do them might as well do them all.
There are ways to test the ball joint by jacking the front up and 'check the wheel for play'. Basically jack the front up till the wheel is just off the ground (do 1 side at a time). The grab the wheel and try and move it up and down/side to side/ back to front etc... there should be really no play. To be safe use a jackstand not just the jack.
IMHO with that torn boot I'd replace them all both top/lower. A bad UBJ will cause a clunk for sure.
mien4x4
New member
Ok so i jack it up and checked it how you explained it to me but there was no play if any it was just a little and it looked like it was from the rack n pinion from turning left to right?
And do you no if theres alot of UBJ falures or will it fail on me?
fish0281
New member
You may need to jack up both wheels at the same time to identify any play... as long as one side is on the ground, the steering linkages are still "loaded" and might prevent you from seeing any play.
If you have grease coming out of the boots, consider them failed and replace them. It's pretty unlikely they'll fail to the point they break in half or something, but if they lost grease and got any road-muck inside the boots, they won't operate like they're supposed to. The clunking may or may not be related to the UBJs, but perhaps you'll be able to identify it with the front suspension fully unloaded (jack stands)... either way, the UBJ's look like c***.
If you have grease coming out of the boots, consider them failed and replace them. It's pretty unlikely they'll fail to the point they break in half or something, but if they lost grease and got any road-muck inside the boots, they won't operate like they're supposed to. The clunking may or may not be related to the UBJs, but perhaps you'll be able to identify it with the front suspension fully unloaded (jack stands)... either way, the UBJ's look like c***.
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