biggest nastiest billy-bad-assed lower Ball Joints?

N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
2,054
371
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I abuse my front end just a little, and short of replacement arms, my front end has about everything in it but the kitchen sink. I'm at 90K mi now, and I've been chasing a light clunk on the driver's side for a while with no luck. I'm convinced that even though my ball joints pass the driveway test (jack up on LCA and I put a long root bar under the tire and lifted up), that maybe I'm not able to get enough force to adequately test them, and one is starting to go?

So, I'm thinking since I'm at 90k, it can't hurt to throw money at the problem and replace my OEM lower ball joints! Uppers are new a few weeks ago, so I'm just looking for lowers.

I've read a ton, but no final answers. I hear Moog Problem Solvers are the old standby, but currently might not be as good as they were. I've heard that Raybestos has a great set. Dmax store sells some Kryptonite ones but they look identical to be the $34 Mevotech TXK6693. I've seen a couple others, but they don't seem to be heavy duty.

So since they are all around the same price... which is the strongest? I'm not cranked up or rock crawling, so I'm not looking for the most articulation or to handle abusive angles, etc. I'm just looking for something that will laugh at my 350lb bumper and boosted launches :woott:

Can we get a final decision to agree upon, or is this going to be an oil thread, LOL?

Thanks in advance!
Wally
 

c20elephant

C20ELEPHANT
Apr 25, 2013
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Phoenix, Arizona
Have you inspected the front cab mounts and the torsion bar cross member mounts at the frame.?


Anyone ever heard of these, I was on another site and a member was asking about them, have not looked or found the uppers

Lemforder 31762 01 Suspension Ball Joint

http://www.opticatonline.com/part/lemforder-31762-01-suspension-ball-joint

Not made in China.....

http://www.zf.com/brands/en_de/lemfoerder/homepage_lf/index.html
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Lemforder 3176201 Lower ball joint

Lemforder 3175901 Upper ball joint

=
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N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
2,054
371
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I haven't ruled anything out. I got under there and gave every piece hell under there and found nothing though. I can go down the road and manhandle lefts and rights without any noises. But when I hit some ripples in the road, I get this light clunk somewhere around my feet or forward of them
 

duramaxzak

Wanna be puller!
Nov 22, 2008
2,431
14
38
Minnesota
I just replace a front drivers side caliper mount and caliper bolts that were making a clunking noise on my 05'. I could take my hand and move the caliper excessively. Clunk would go away with the brakes applied. Worth a look!
 

IOWA LLY

Yes, its really me
Feb 23, 2007
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Could be shocks also. I've seen the bushings in the end go bad and cause a clunk noise.

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N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
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I'll check the brakes, thanks. The shocks were clunking too but I replaced them and narrowed it down to one light persistent clunk,lol
 

N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
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I did, but I didn't read about any first hand experience. Plus, their website only gives info to their vendors that log in, so I was disappointed.
 

c20elephant

C20ELEPHANT
Apr 25, 2013
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Phoenix, Arizona
Ever looked at xrf?

http://www.xrfchassis.com





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The price is in the range of all the other brands, makes me think of a re-boxer with a good amount of BS on their site.......

http://www.xrfchassis.com/XRF-order-online.htm


We accomplished our goals by forging strategic alliances with an engineering group, a state-of-the-art manufacturer, an OEM testing laboratory and a world transportation logistics group. 
 

Ebay no less, granted you can find high quality items but this seems to be the only retail outlet..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silverado-2500-3500-4x4-Upper-Lower-Ball-joint-XRF-2002-/160896340208

One review on DP.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/76...2010/418474-just-ordered-xrf-ball-joints.html
 
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Awenta

Active member
Sep 28, 2014
4,090
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38
CT
I think Albert (burndown) has them maybe he will chime in.

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Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
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48
Boise Idaho
I have been running XRF for sometime. When I swapped out the uca for some cognito's the Ball joints were still nice and tight, probably 30k on them give or take. Super rough roads and wicked cold weather is hard on ball joints up here. The XRF's have help up fine. I also run 305x55xr20 and maximum negative offset on my wheels 20x10, which is hard on the ball joints as well. I have no complaints. Ebay is where I bought mine.
 

N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
2,054
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I'll bump it up to see if anyone else has first hand experience
 

Yellow Jacket

WannaBe Sled Puller
Feb 11, 2009
917
0
16
Waterloo, IA
Have any of you replaced the steering shaft from the gearbox to just inside of cab? It generates a slight clunk hard to find, sounds like driver front tire area...