Two weeks ago, the ball joints on the Wife's Liberty started squealing. Not a major big deal. I told her to get a price and get them replaced because I HATE working on the DDs. She was in the middle of play rehearsals and didn't have time. I figured it would be good for several months, so no big rush right.
She called me from the grocery store a little while ago. "The Jeep made a bang noise and won't move."
Yep, ball joint. The tow truck just dropped it at the house. 
Why would it go from squeaking to failed in under a month? Because Chrysler engineers in their infinite wisdom has the weight of the vehicle pulling the ball out of the socket rather than pushing the ball into the socket. How berkeleying stupid is that.
This one will be headed to the chopping block as soon as it's back together. Anyone interested in a 02 Liberty. It'll have new ball joints for sure.
bgkast
Dork
4/11/14 10:55 p.m.
Google "Jeep Library Ball joint recall"
My W123 has ball the same style of ball joints and I've never heard of a similar issue. All.lower ball joints are loaded in tension if the spring is acting on the lower A arm.
ddavidv
PowerDork
4/12/14 5:23 a.m.
Chrsyler = E36 M3ty ball joints across the board. Also notorious failure items on the Patriot/Compass and I would assume the Dodge Caliber since it's the same. The pickup front suspensions are also junk. They must be under-sized for the load or something.
Moog makes a zirc'd replacement BJ for the mall rated Jeeps that helps them last longer.
Solid axle swap would fix that right up...
DILYSI Dave wrote:
Solid axle swap would fix that right up...
True, but then I'd still have the "may-pop" engine and window regulators made out of spun glass.
My wife has been talking about something big enough to haul grandchildren and now seems like an opportune time to start looking.
DrBoost
PowerDork
4/12/14 7:40 a.m.
I don't know. I can't hate on a manufacturer because they made a part that gave me a warning when it was beginning to fail, but didn't fail on my time line. When it comes to ball joints and tie rod ends, when they show the first sign of wear, I replace it because I know the result of not doing it.
If they have to be replaced more often that I'm accustomed to, I would get irritated. But once I know it's worn, it's replaced.
I drove my '02 liberty 72+K miles. Had the ball joints replace twice under recalls. No problems after that.
Just say'n.
Knurled
PowerDork
4/12/14 2:23 p.m.
Toyman01 wrote: Because Chrysler engineers in their infinite wisdom has the weight of the vehicle pulling the ball out of the socket rather than pushing the ball into the socket. How berkeleying stupid is that.
That has been SOP for decades. Loading a load-bearing ball joint in compression rather than tension is a fairly recent development. (Not counting vehicles that put the spring on the upper control arm of course)
IME the ball joints will give a LOT of warning before they are bad enough to let go like that. You do need to support the vehicle by the control arm and then check for vertical play with a prybar. Old Honda Accords were REALLY bad for that - they would have no lateral play whatsoever and no vertical play unless at ride height. Then 1/4" of slop. Oftentimes several inches of slop and special two-piece drive axles.
