Front End Suspension Question

When in doubt: replace them. The work isn't really hard, and even if you go OEM they aren't all that expensive (given the alternative).

I have a blurb on ball joints if you care to read it (link to my build thread is in my sig), but your BJs look like they're leaking a bit. Just go ahead and replace them. Same with your tie rods, and all that stuff. It will ride like new afterwords. Only advice I have it to rent a proper BJ press (the C-clamp lookin one). Most auto parts stores rent them for free.

A year or 2 ago, I went and did all the things: steering rack bushings, tie rods, lower ball joints. Felt like new afterwords. The shocks and the upper control arms I did were just icing on the cake.

The only thing I didn't do was the lower control arm bushings, which I had done 6+ years before that, with Energy Suspension Poly bushings.

 

Good advice!!!

 

Possibly the tie rods are to blame. Could be inner or outer, Moogs are a great aftermarket choice

 

I would say more like a "decent" aftermarket choice. I would spend the extra $20 on some 555's though...

 

Ive heard of em... ive been using Moog for as long as ive had my truck though. Ill be honest I try to take care of my truck as much as possible, but I throw that thing around when im in the dirt and the moogs have held up through it all. Thats why I usually recommend them because for the price they can put up with a lot. At least based off of my experience

 

I've run Moogs as well. The 555's are definitely a better fit and finish product, and were indistinguishable from OEM (555 is an OEM manufacturer). As for if there's a marked improvement in performance, that's debatable, sure.

I just have a "thing" with putting a $26 part that holds my steering/suspension together, lol.

 

Perfectly understandable lol but that’s good to know. Wasn’t aware that 555 makes OEM parts...

 

I've heard rumors that 555 make the Moog ones too. It's not a stretch to imagine they're all made in 1 or 2 factories around the world. Doesn't mean they're the same quality, though...

 

Oh yeah I mean if they make oem parts then it’s probably for certain that they make Moogs. A lot of manufacturers do that with many different products. Shit, even Samsung makes a majority of the hardware used in iPhones and I think is the sole manufacturer of Apple’s displays in all of their idevices

 

Yeah, they likely just have different production lines that have different manufacturing tolerances, or maybe they just package them differently depending on qa/qc.

 

Here's a final follow up post. I finally got around to replacing my tie rods on both sides, and new lower ball joints. I'll be stoved up for a couple of days after this job. I started on Friday(me only) and then my BIL helped me out on Saturday. We left the truck with the drivers side complete, and the passenger side with the new lower ball joint in place, with one bolt holding it. Today, I finished up installing the LBJ, and the tie rods on the passenger side with the help of my next door neighbor. I now understand first hand, why they say get an alignment after doing this work. I counted the exposed threads on both outer tie rod ends, and did my best to duplicate the same # when installing the new ones. I took it for a small test drive around the block, and I swear it felt like I was driving a conestoga wagon. I double checked all the bolts and castle nuts for proper torque, and would have thought it might drive halfway decent. Taking it in tomorrow morning for an alignment. Ball joints weren't really all that bad, but trying to break the inner tie rods loose was a pita. I know at some point, I'll have to replace the upper ball joints, but I'll cross that bridge when it get's here. Sorry guys, no pics.

 

"I have a blurb on ball joints if you care to read it (link to my build thread is in my sig), but your BJs look like they're leaking a bit. Just go ahead and replace them. Same with your tie rods, and all that stuff. It will ride like new afterwords. Only advice I have it to rent a proper BJ press (the C-clamp lookin one). Most auto parts stores rent them for free."

What are you refering to here? regarding a ball joint press? The lowers are bolt on. Do the uppers need a press? I have can't remember from last time I was looking at them.