I want to resurrect this thread (instead of creating a new one) .... as I'm going to be replacing the ball joints here very soon in my 99 XJ.
(HPD30 - 1ton OTK - 33x125 on 3.5" BS)
I have done plenty of research and would like to get a discussion going on what ball joints YOU would buy again if doing things all over again.
Now before this gets too crazy, let me bring you up to speed on what I know and have read.
Crown would be a direct OEM replacement, but I would rather not have to go thru the hassle of having to do the swap once or twice every year.
Spicer has a good reputation as being a decent OEM replacement. But that's it... it's just "as good as" stock... no better.
MOOG used to have the same rep if not better, but recently I read that they are now made in China or were bought by a Chinese company and since then the quality has gone down hill.
XRF look good on paper but still have composite (acetal) internals (cup) and I haven't been able to find any long time reviews on them. That and they're made in Taiwan.
Synergy supposedly is one of the better brands, offering a more "heavy duty" option than many of the above listed. AND team
uses them in their KOH rig (or at least used to) ... yet I have still heard mixed reviews from both the XJ as well as the TJ and JK crowds on the reliability/durability of these.
Falcon Steering Systems came up in my searches, but I couldn't find anyone in the Jeep world that had any reviews on them.
Dynatrac's from what I've read are by far the best money can buy, (and for $600+ they better be) ...but if memory serves me correctly, they dont make them for the D30. Not that I would drop that kind of coin on BJ's for the turdy anyways.
Mevotech is ones I've seen on many XJ's but seem like just another cheapo Chinese made set of junk.
Alloy USA is a set that seems to be made well, and on paper, look to be superior to many of the above listed options. I have read many great reviews, and only a couple negative which consisted of getting something "bad out of the box" or getting the wrong part.... nothing bad to say about the overall quality or durability.
Now there's a lot that comes into play here in reviews, with a massive variance of lift, wheel and tire combos, backspacing, wheeling/driving habits and maintenance history between all of us, and those who have reviewed the above ball joints online. I know that everyone has had good results and/or bad with one manufacturer or another, and that's fine, I'm expecting my views to differ with many of your own.... that's the kind of reviews/advice I'm looking for though... what has worked well for YOU, and more importantly:
WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU WERE TO DO IT AGAIN RIGHT NOW?
So far my research and what I have read is making me lean towards the Alloy USA or the Synergy ones (they have a very similar design)...
Thoughts?