Looking over the truck for our annual safety inspection I noticed my Spicer ball joints have enough play to make me want to replace them after a hard 12,000 yes 12,000 miles. I thought I was doing well by replacing with the originals with the same thing that served me well. Like some have said over the years Spicer is not what it used to be, or there are different grades. These where in Spicer boxes and looked to be as original as could be. I will never use or recommend another Spicer joint again . I'm going with either NAPA or AC Delco this time. Just an FYI for those who are looking at ball joints

I'm sorry you are going thru this. Are you sure they are wearing that much? Dieselfuture says even new ones have a bit of play in them. He knows..... he changed his for no reason he found out 

Just now, JAG1 said:

I'm sorry you are going thru this. Are you sure they are wearing that much? Dieselfuture says even new ones have a bit of play in them. He knows..... he changed his for no reason he found out 

There is a noticeable bump with a pry bar under the tire. I've read a little up and down is OK. I have about .005". I've also read no side to side is allowed. I have about .007". The NAPA (I think) joint on the other side has no bump.

3 minutes ago, dave110 said:

There is a noticeable bump with a pry bar under the tire. I've read a little up and down is OK. I have about .005". I've also read no side to side is allowed. I have about .007". The NAPA (I think) joint on the other side has no bump.

So you know for sure its not the unitized bearings that have the play?

Edited October 7, 20186 yr by JAG1

That does sound very odd.  Even ungreased ball joints should be able to make it past 12k.  I replaced my originals at 200k with some greasable XRF ball joints with a million mile warranty.  Hopefully I never have to touch them again. 

1 hour ago, JAG1 said:

So you know for sure its not the unitized bearings that have the play?

Yeah, it's the upper joint for sure

55 minutes ago, Bullet said:

That does sound very odd.  Even ungreased ball joints should be able to make it past 12k.  I replaced my originals at 200k with some greasable XRF ball joints with a million mile warranty.  Hopefully I never have to touch them again. 

@Me78569 I believe got 20k on Spicers. I thought that was bad at the time.Seems I beat his record.

The biggest thing is wheels and tires size. I've got 176k on my current ball joints and still tight.

I've never ran bigger than the stock 215-85-16. Original Spicers did well which is why I chose them again. Apparently they have gone the way of Moog.

Edited October 8, 20186 yr by dave110

Well I sure hope mine are not going to wear out that fast. I'm guessing when you press them in you did it the right way and pressed on the right spot. 

I just changed mine and my uppers were as solid as can be, and lowers had a little play up and down, but a new ball joint also has a little up and down. I got mine from Sadler Power Train and they rebuilt a lot of axles, I wouldn't think they would be selling them if they were going out that fast. At least I hope not.

But hey my truck is all antiseezed now, should only take a few minutes to do it next time, I like disassembling my truck on monthly basis.

So, since you don't have oversized tire and running the factory one-ton tires. I would have to say the Spicer name has let you down just like it did for @Me78569 he got short life from the spicer name brand as well. 

1 hour ago, Dieselfuture said:

Well I sure hope mine are not going to wear out that fast. I'm guessing when you press them in you did it the right way and pressed on the right spot. 

I just changed mine and my uppers were as solid as can be, and lowers had a little play up and down, but a new ball joint also has a little up and down. I got mine from Sadler Power Train and they rebuilt a lot of axles, I wouldn't think they would be selling them if they were going out that fast. At least I hope not.

But hey my truck is all antiseezed now, should only take a few minutes to do it next time, I like disassembling my truck on monthly basis.

It's human nature to question the installation. Believe me if I had a shop doing the work for me I would be cakllng and asking what they think they did wrong. Not that I'm immune to making mistakes. I make plenty. But I'm confident in how I installed these joints.Rumor has it in other ball joint discussions I've followed that there are different grades from Spicer that appear to look the same. Hopefully what you have are the good ole original ones. Me, I'll not take the chance again. Ball joints are no fun.

1 hour ago, Mopar1973Man said:

So, since you don't have oversized tire and running the factory one-ton tires. I would have to say the Spicer name has let you down just like it did for @Me78569 he got short life from the spicer name brand as well. 

Mike, IIRC you have AC Delco ball joints. There are several at Rock Auto. Do you know which ones you are running?

Edited October 8, 20186 yr by dave110

Not anymore. I can't remember but I remember I bought cheapy ball joints and they are still going. The uppers are greaseable and the lowers are sealed. 

Edited October 8, 20186 yr by Mopar1973Man

 I have kept my eye open for some new old stock for some ball joints. No luck so far. But the Moog ones I put in near 200k ago are still working fine. A little up and down movement but thats it. About the same as they were a couple years ago.

 I did find some new old ujoints from 2003 for the drive shaft. All sealed Spicer. So if they are as good as the oe ones I will never change them again. I like sealed joints.

 

 Maybe Jimmy Johnson can tells what brand he uses. He broke one before they dropped the green flag in yesterdays race. Might of had a 100 miles on it.

Edited October 8, 20186 yr by dripley

And they changed it in like 8 minutes. I know mines gonna take longer than that. Takes me longer than that to pre- fill my oil filter. 

Edited October 9, 20186 yr by dave110

35 minutes ago, dave110 said:

And they changed it in like 8 minutes

Yeah, but he lost 14 laps and it took me 2 days to change out 4 and put it back together, thats like 17 races I think.

At least you and I don't have to worry about losing laps. Just beer and money and blood.

I'll have to keep report of my Spicer ball joint condition. Approximately 4,000 unladen miles mixed pavement and mountain roads with no signs of ball joint looseness yet.

Was going to put NAPA's in put looking at the pics it appears all the uppers are splined . The search continues.

AC Delco professionals on order from Rock Auto. Luckily they had just sent me a discount code. See how they hold up.

Got the Delco's put in over the weekend. Install was easy enough being it was apart not long ago. Recieved fro Rock Auto 24 hrs. after purchase. They're great to deal with. Was a little disappointed when I opened the box though.

 

What I wanted to see.

 

What I didn't want to see. Nothing more American than apple pie and Chevrolet they used to say. And yet Generous Motors signature brand is made in Taiwan. How sad. Below is a video of the 12k mile Spicer upped joint.

Edited October 15, 20186 yr by dave110

8 hours ago, dave110 said:

And yet Generous Motors signature brand is made in Taiwan

Taiwan is better than china