Ball Joint Eliminator kits

[Boss Hugg]

Thought I'd share this idea. Didn't find it anywhere on the forum by searching "Ball Joint Eliminator." https://americanironoffroad.com/collections/other/products/old-school-66-95

Looks like a more dependable setup to me. And compared to the cost of GOOD ball joints, it's not that bad on price. And much less work when it's time to replace them. Looking at doing my F350 in the future with new steering linkage from http://www.xrfauto.com

 

[toddz69]

My boss (JK owner) came over and showed me those the other day. I had never seen such a thing and I consider myself pretty well-versed on the various parts available out there. It appears they're all made by the American Iron company and it seems like mostly Jeep owners are using them - perhaps because they routinely run bigger tires with their 44s than other vehicles? I passed it along to 2 fellow forum members/mechanical engineers. One remarked that the load-bearing surface of that uniball is actually smaller than the equivalent surface of our balljoints and the other said it looked like a solution in search of a problem .

Todd Z.

 

[Boss Hugg]

Interesting point. There were two advantages I could see. 1. There is no way a the shaft/ball can pull out of the socket with this because it's got a bolt all the way thru it. I don't see this happening very often with ball joints, but...?? 2. Instead of pressing in and out ball joints and wearing the holes in the C's, you just pull the bolts out and replace the bearings.

I'll have to do more research on the bearing size part. Its a valid potential problem.

 

[DirtDonk]

I’ve heard of the part before, but never bothered to check it out because it wasn’t really a big problem that we have.
But the first link doesn’t seem to work and the second link to the company is not showing it that I can find.
At least from my phone. is there a different link?

 

[Broncobowsher]

I cleaned up the link https://americanironoffroad.com/products/old-school-66-95
but still don't see what the product it. I see this for the 60 line https://americanironoffroad.com/blogs/tech
It really doesn't look very robust of a design to me. Low friction delicate race car stuff, but not tough off-road parts.

 

[Boss Hugg]

 

[ntsqd]

I'll concur with a solution in search of a problem.

The OTC press that I bought to service universal joints came with the bits needed to also press ball-joints out and back in. I've only done one set with it so far, and I was careful to align the knurling for the lowest effort install.