Important

[IllianaXJ]

Moog parts are typically top of the line. Not sure why they tried to tell you they caused the problem. I have no doubt that bad ball joints can cause your issues, and they are known for failing often on super duty trucks. If the PO had used cheapo parts store brand ball joints, I could see an issue.

I put Moog ball joints in a E350 ambulance today as a matter of fact, no issues with install or wandering (besides being a huge box on wheels).

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

Moog parts are typically top of the line. Not sure why they tried to tell you they caused the problem. I have no doubt that bad ball joints can cause your issues, and they are known for failing often on super duty trucks. If the PO had used cheapo parts store brand ball joints, I could see an issue.

I put Moog ball joints in a E350 ambulance today as a matter of fact, no issues with install or wandering (besides being a huge box on wheels).

I'm surprised, too. I did quite a bit of reading online and I had seen that other people had similar issues, and that overall the Motorcraft joints were recommended. I don't get it, either, I usually think pretty highly of Moog parts.

I think the bigger issue is probably the installation, looking at the manual it looks like you torque the lower, then torque the upper, then torque the lower again to the final spec. I'm not sure how likely a shadetree would be to do that. Overall I'm not really sure what the underlying problem was, but they changed the ball joints and it got rid of the wander. I don't think I would have been able to handle the 7 hour trip to Harlan doing the two-handle white-knuckle routine.

 

[ChiXJeff]

My 99 Dodge's D60 balljoints use a 3 step torque sequence, 35 ft/lbs, 70, then 150.

I feel yer pain. I got the driver's side knuckle off on Sunday, and discovered that my balljoint press wasn't big enough for D60 balljoints. Fortunately, the balljoints are in the knuckle which made it easy to take it somewhere to do the task.

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

My 99 Dodge's D60 balljoints use a 3 step torque sequence, 35 ft/lbs, 70, then 150.

I feel yer pain. I got the driver's side knuckle off on Sunday, and discovered that my balljoint press wasn't big enough for D60 balljoints. Fortunately, the balljoints are in the knuckle which made it easy to take it somewhere to do the task.

That sucks you are having problems even with the D60. I have read of a lot of 250 guys regretting not getting a 350 so that they can have the D60 instead of the D50 which is notorious for these kinds of problems.

 

[01grn_xj]

My 99 Dodge's D60 balljoints use a 3 step torque sequence, 35 ft/lbs, 70, then 150.

I feel yer pain. I got the driver's side knuckle off on Sunday, and discovered that my balljoint press wasn't big enough for D60 balljoints. Fortunately, the balljoints are in the knuckle which made it easy to take it somewhere to do the task.

Those dodges are notorious for having ball joint problems especially when you stick some aftermarket wider wheels and tires on there and add a little more stress. I sold my Ram 2500 Diesel a couple months back and they are notorious for ball joint problems.

 

[ChiXJeff]

The Dodges are well know for this. Managed to get to 284k on mine before they really started to be trouble. Stock rims, tires are a bit taller than stock.

 

[01grn_xj]

The Dodges are well know for this. Managed to get to 284k on mine before they really started to be trouble. Stock rims, tires are a bit taller than stock.

I sold mine with 158k and they were starting to show signs of wear. 284K is miraculous on those ball joints, but then again could be how they were installed. I know a couple of people that could not get 50k out of a set but they are harder on things than I was. Mine had oversize tires and aftermarket wheels so I just accelerated the process for mine.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

spent the past 5 hours on the skidsteer...my freakin knees and guts are shot.....but I repaired all the crossings on the home place farm and moved some downed trees. Saw a shitpot full of deer out this evening. Gives me an idea on where I want to set up some trail cameras.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Stopped to help some kids tonight on my way home. I saw 3 people pushing a beretta so I swung back around to see if they needed a tug. When I pulled up they said."we broke a cv shaft" I said alright, I'll get in front of you and pull it off the road and give you a ride into town. They were probably about 19 or so. One kid couldn't find a good place to hook it up and about that time an officer pulled up and I got down to look under to find a place to hook it up. I shine my flashlight under there and see a brake rotor about 3 inched from the ground. Yeah apparently the lug nuts snapped off. So about that time the officer and I say, Yeah you need a wrecker. I shook the hands of the guys and the officer called them a wrecker. They said we were coming back from rushville. thats about an hour and a half or so away. When they got to shelbyville, about 30 minutes from me they said it started making noise. Luckily the tire hit the fender and they got the car stopped ok. People need to teach their kids basic things like CHECK YOUR LUGNUTS, I need to check mine come to think of it.......Nick you better too!

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

WOW...I think I may have ate the only can of Hormel chili that was ever expired..or at least it smells like that today assgas:

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

Stopped to help some kids tonight on my way home. I saw 3 people pushing a beretta so I swung back around to see if they needed a tug. When I pulled up they said."we broke a cv shaft" I said alright, I'll get in front of you and pull it off the road and give you a ride into town. They were probably about 19 or so. One kid couldn't find a good place to hook it up and about that time an officer pulled up and I got down to look under to find a place to hook it up. I shine my flashlight under there and see a brake rotor about 3 inched from the ground. Yeah apparently the lug nuts snapped off. So about that time the officer and I say, Yeah you need a wrecker. I shook the hands of the guys and the officer called them a wrecker. They said we were coming back from rushville. thats about an hour and a half or so away. When they got to shelbyville, about 30 minutes from me they said it started making noise. Luckily the tire hit the fender and they got the car stopped ok. People need to teach their kids basic things like CHECK YOUR LUGNUTS, I need to check mine come to think of it.......Nick you better too!

Neal lost his tire at Harlan last year, I think he's been going around and giving everybody the lug nut aids.

I always take a torque wrench with me now. Haven't warped a rotor or lost a tire yet.

 

[kastein]

I never use a torque wrench on lugs... go around in a star pattern with the cross wrench, torque them to perty-damn-tight, then do it again till I get the feeling they're about as tight as I'll be able to remove without power tools. Haven't warped or broken or stripped anything yet, and I've never gotten more than 1/8 of a turn out of them (to the same perty-damn-tight spec) at the ~50 mile torque check.

 

[87manche]

I use a wrench, but only on alloy wheels.

the steelies on the Jeep, meh, tighten until they don't turn anymore. It's not like my 135 lb ass is going to overtoque them.

 

[IllianaXJ]

I always use a torque wrench. Ever since I lost a rear wheel on the highway while pulling a small trailer with the Jeep I have been OCD about wheel torque. I carry a torque wrench in the truck toolbox and check the truck/camper/trailer/whatever lugs' torque before every long(er) trip.

Same goes at work, last thing I want is a phone call from a customer saying they lost a wheel. Nothing leaves the lift without torquing if a wheel has been removed.

 

[87manche]

perhaps I'll toss it in the truck for the railer tires.

The perils of borrowing a trailer.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

So the battery went dead on the Chevy (tow rig) the other night b/c I left the radio playing and the doors open for too long...I jumped it off the YJ and it ran for a while to charge up the battery and then I let it sit overnight. Next morning it started and the idle was pulsating. I drove it to work yesterday and the thing would die at stop signs or when I would slow down the rpm's drop down to 300 and start to loose power steering. I put it on a battery charger last night and fully charged the battery and it is doing the same thing while in gear today. I had the parts store do a battery draw test and it shows it is still a good battery. It idles fine in park, but once in any gear it wants to fall on its face.....no check engine lights or anything...the Tahoe did the same thing to me once it's battery shot craps one time...not sure what it is, was told the computer may have to be reflashed...

 

[01grn_xj]

There is a relearn procedure for chevy's when you kill the battery or replace the battery. I ran into that the other day when I replaced the battery in my wifes blazer but cannot remember what I did. I think you just havve to keep driving it so it can relearn everything. Might try calling a local shop and see if they can let you in on how exactly to do it.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

I believe we have a winner!! I just got done searching FSC and it seems to be a very common problem. There is a relearn time period for the computer to learn the driving habits etc from. I am going to put a new battery in it regardless, so it will have to relearn again. I also read a bunch of posts that said to clean the TB after the battery replacement so it will be functioning at peak performance during the relearning process. Just want everything to be in top shape before loading up the truck for next weeks vacation and for sure for the Hannibal Rocks trip.

 

[kastein]

Sounds a lot like what XJs do. My usual careless "xxxx it who cares, keep driving" method would keep me from ever asking this question :dunno:

 

[87manche]

I believe we have a winner!! I just got done searching FSC and it seems to be a very common problem. There is a relearn time period for the computer to learn the driving habits etc from. I am going to put a new battery in it regardless, so it will have to relearn again. I also read a bunch of posts that said to clean the TB after the battery replacement so it will be functioning at peak performance during the relearning process. Just want everything to be in top shape before loading up the truck for next weeks vacation and for sure for the Hannibal Rocks trip.

make sure you use a MAF sensor friendly cleaner, or remove the MAF entirely. Many expensive sensors have been killed by cleaning, they're very sensitive.