Front end ball joints

blazergirl71 · #1 06-16-2006, 03:54 AM

does anyone have big problems with ball joints?
I bought my 2000 Blazer just over two years ago and have replaced the passenger side ball joint once and the driver side twice. The last time was in Dec of this year and it's shot again....any idea if this is a problem with the Blazers or am I just getting crappy ball joints?

DINO55 · #2 06-16-2006, 06:59 AM

Blazers have big problems with ball joints, MOOG or TRW are top of the line for our trucks. LOT'S OF GREASE often is the key to make them last longer.

MT-2500 · #3 06-16-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazergirl71

does anyone have big problems with ball joints?
I bought my 2000 Blazer just over two years ago and have replaced the passenger side ball joint once and the driver side twice. The last time was in Dec of this year and it's shot again....any idea if this is a problem with the Blazers or am I just getting crappy ball joints?

If you have to replace them get the best top of the line replacements.
And as said greese them often and good.
Also get a hand grease gun with a good quality grease and jack it up between oil changes and give it a extra greese job at oil changes and between oil changes.
I have found a lot of dry ball joints when working on them
People are not getting them greased good or often enough or the jiffie lubes are not doing there job.
MT

BlazerLT · #4 06-16-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazergirl71

does anyone have big problems with ball joints?
I bought my 2000 Blazer just over two years ago and have replaced the passenger side ball joint once and the driver side twice. The last time was in Dec of this year and it's shot again....any idea if this is a problem with the Blazers or am I just getting crappy ball joints?

1.) What is the brand name of parts you are having installed?

2.) Are you having your 10 grease fittings greased fully every 6 months?

3.) Have you had your alignment checked lately? A front end out of alignment wil cause premature front end part failure.

BananaBomber · #5 06-18-2006, 09:41 AM

I have a 2000 ZR2 and have replaced all the ball joints. I'm now replacing the upper ones again. I have been buying the best quality NAPA ones and I think they are TRW. I see Fabtech makes them also, anybody have experience with them?

MT-2500 · #6 06-18-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BananaBomber

I have a 2000 ZR2 and have replaced all the ball joints. I'm now replacing the upper ones again. I have been buying the best quality NAPA ones and I think they are TRW. I see Fabtech makes them also, anybody have experience with them?

I would go for another brand.
But the problem is you can not even trust a brand any more.
A lot of aftermarket parts places have a batch of parts made up to there own specs that may carry a major brand on the box but they are not up to oem specs.
Choice your parts with care.
Check around with some of your front end aligment and repair shops and maybe they can steer you in the right direction.
I have used the moog front end parts for many years.
And do not forget to keep them greased good.
Do not trust the jiffie lubes to get the job done right
Invest in a good hand grease gun and quality grease and DIY your own grease job or find a good repair shop you can trust to get the job done .
Good luck
MT

BlazerLT · #7 06-18-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BananaBomber

I have a 2000 ZR2 and have replaced all the ball joints. I'm now replacing the upper ones again. I have been buying the best quality NAPA ones and I think they are TRW. I see Fabtech makes them also, anybody have experience with them?

Try Moog, never seen them fail.

Also, are you greasing them every 5-10k?

BlazinMlew · #8 06-18-2006, 07:30 PM

As far as I can see almost everyone has had the ball-joint problem, huh? When I took mine in for service it was pretty well worn as well. Not alot of grease at all.

I got it serviced and it has been good ever since until recently. I now have it coming from the pass. side so I think I will upgrade. Anyone got a good link for the better ball joints??

furrybandit · #9 06-18-2006, 08:56 PM

I have a 2005 ZR2 and the dealer has put 2 lower sets on under warantee, 40,000 km, they eat em for lunch.. LOL

BlazerLT · #10 06-18-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazinMlew

As far as I can see almost everyone has had the ball-joint problem, huh? When I took mine in for service it was pretty well worn as well. Not alot of grease at all.

I got it serviced and it has been good ever since until recently. I now have it coming from the pass. side so I think I will upgrade. Anyone got a good link for the better ball joints??

Go to your local reatiler and ask for Moog.

Most premature or frequent balljoint failures are do to lack of greasing.

My city has the worst roads I have ever witnessed and I have yet after 4 years seen one of my balljoints fail.

Hell, even some balljoints that people think are bad will become perfect after jacking the load off of the tiree and pumping 5-10 good pumps of grease in them.

BlazerLT · #11 06-18-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furrybandit

I have a 2005 ZR2 and the dealer has put 2 lower sets on under warantee, 40,000 km, they eat em for lunch.. LOL

BUT, do you grease them regularly?

Also remember that having them changed frequently can also put unneeded wear and tear on your other components through the constant reinstallation.

spano · #12 06-19-2006, 09:57 AM

I had NO grease in my ball joints on the 96 I purchased, I looked at the former owners records and they were only 1 year old on a replacement for the ball joints. So jacked it up, shot the heckout of it, and have had smooth running for a week or so now. I plan on jacking it up again in another week and adding a topper of grease. I think it's more important to grease these bad boys every 3 months or so, depending on where you live or if you have a rough road to travel such as I do. The only concern is my steering wheel is cocked to the left, although the truck dosn't pull I think a lack of the grease hase caused a little damage, I'll bring it in for an alingment (probly get jacked for a couple 100) and try to maintain the ball joints.

BlazerLT · #13 06-19-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spano

I had NO grease in my ball joints on the 96 I purchased, I looked at the former owners records and they were only 1 year old on a replacement for the ball joints. So jacked it up, shot the heckout of it, and have had smooth running for a week or so now. I plan on jacking it up again in another week and adding a topper of grease. I think it's more important to grease these bad boys every 3 months or so, depending on where you live or if you have a rough road to travel such as I do. The only concern is my steering wheel is cocked to the left, although the truck dosn't pull I think a lack of the grease hase caused a little damage, I'll bring it in for an alingment (probly get jacked for a couple 100) and try to maintain the ball joints.

They must have done some front end work and didn't align it.

Get an alignment and you will be good to go.

Also, there are 10 grease fittings on your front end, grease them all.

DetroitMuscle · #14 06-19-2006, 08:13 PM

www.amazon.com

Thats where I get my MOOG parts, the T bar mounts are under 20 a piece.

blazee · #15 06-20-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Most premature or frequent balljoint failures are do to lack of greasing.

Absolutely, my balljoints have always been greased regularly. They have 176,000 miles and just now need replacing (they probably still wouldn't need to be replaced, if I hadn't run out of grease and skipped them the last couple oil changes). They even spent the first 100,000 miles of their life offroad for 10 hours a day.

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