New ball joints when installing new a-arms?

I just installed my outkast 3" lift last week, I had reused my ball joints without any issues, it rides better then it did when it was stock,I'm going to order new ball joints to have on hand. I did run into a few issues when installing the arms. I would recommend that you grind the paint out of the holes before pressing, but be careful . I did mine with a deemed tool and one of the ball joints sits in real loose, I ended up tack welding it in, I wasn't going to wait another 3 weeks for another set of arms. My other problem was the passenger side rear shock mount would not line up to save my life, I grinded the side of the mount to clear the shock body.... In the end it's worth it ...

@realrider380, how come you are running wheel spacers with your lift?

Unless your joints were practically new, I would install new joints when installing new arms.

Just have about 30 hours on it.

I installed the wheel spacers to give me some stability. It's alot better on the side hills and going into corners in my opinion. I think it looks alot better also. Some of these guys are lifting their rigs and losing a ton of stability by not widening the wheel stance.everyone obviously has there own preferences and opinions.

I was thinking of doing it for the exact reasons. Do you have any photos posted front/back/side views?

I will take a few pics from the back to show how far they are out ... Tires sit about 1 3/4" outside the box sides, how do I add pictures to the post, I see the picture icon that says I can choose a file but no way to add to the text ...?

I have some factory ball joints with 1600 hours on them. and they are just now showing signs that they need replacing..

Replacing a 30 hour ball joint is crazy to me unless they've been damaged in some other way that normal wear.

Don't replace them, save your money and put them back in. take the paint out of the holes of the new A-arms, grease up the side of the ball joints, set the A arm on the bench, hit the ball joint twice to get it seated, put the snap ring on and you're good to go.

If you replace the ball joints, please send me your old ones.

They are probably recommending replacing the joints because "most" people do not have a press and will simply hammer them out, which has a tendency to damage the joint internally and shorten it's life considerably.

commanderjjones said:

They are probably recommending replacing the joints because "most" people do not have a press and will simply hammer them out, which has a tendency to damage the joint internally and shorten it's life considerably.

Click to expand...

Maybe, but they show a fancy polaris tool to remove/install them. I think that it is a way to increase part sales :wink-new:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Is that guy who uses a hammer to take ball joints in and out.:untroubled:

Haven't noticed any increased wear to speak of.... one set was changed out at 1200 hours and the machine now has 1800 hours.

The other two rangers have 1200 and 1500 hours on them, Both have had A arms bent, ball joints hammered out, and hammered back in...both are still running original ball joints

Like I said, lay your A arm on the bench, start the ball joint, you should be able to seat it with a couple good licks. you're not hurting anything.


Don't know about you guys, but every couple hundred hours or so, I take my grease gun with the needle tip on it and slip it under the rubber boots of the ball joints and pump them full of grease. I either use that, or use the red straw and some PJ1 (blue can).... works wonders.ride:

Thanks to all of y'all that have chimed in. I just could not see why Polairs would have you replace the ball joints and hardware, so I had to ask.

Anyhow, I will be installing the lift today reusing the original ball joints that I press in/out with my shop press.

Thanks!

if you want to put a couple drops of blue loctite on the threads of the little 13mm headed bolts that secure the ball joints to the spindle, it wouldn't hurt anything. I've never felt the need to, since they've got lock nuts on them, but you could if you wanted to. Don't know where else they would want you to replace the hardware?

When you re-install the A arms, coat thebolts in anti seize before reinstalling them. The next guy that has to replace them will thank you! also, get those bolts TIGHT. if the bolts are just lightly snugged up the a arm bol can pivot on the bolt hole instead of the sleeve and egg shape the hole... tighten them up good, a least 40 ft lbs, 45-50 would be best.

Now would be a good opportunity with the ball joints out to slip some lubricant under the boot into the ball joint. grease would be best, be even chain lube would help!

Good luck with it!

Thanks for sharing.