Rebuild or replace JBA ball joint

One replacement is $60. 2 rebuilds are $62

Curious if anyone had any luck or insight on the rebuild process vs dropping in a ready to go one.
I have a clunk coming from mine after almost only 3 years

thanks



(btw I have 2 jeeps running these upper arms and would like to prepare for any future issues)

One of my JBA’s UBJ’s is original (120,000+ miles) but the other one only made it maybe 80,000 miles. It was squeaking for months and I knew I needed to do something about it but I put it off. Unfortunately that squeak became an alarming clunking on a trip where I was away from home, without easy access to JBA parts. The garage that fixed it used a UBJ from a Suburban that matched the bolt pattern, and that’s still in there now. But I do wish I had either rebuilt or replaced it with another JBA unit before I had an impending failure situation and didn’t have a choice.

Initially before the rebuildable ones, JBA was using the Moog with zerk # K6292.

I've replaced only one so far because of the boot/grease seal collapsed.

Rebuildable ones all the way
Still have almost a new set of the K6292s taking up space in the shop
First set of the "test rebuildable ones" are still running daily, everyday in day out no issues

i 2nd the jba rebuildable ones. I did a set of rebuildable ones on both my JBA UCAs and they are running well

Thanks everyone.
I’ve never rebuilt a ball joint before so interesting to see what that will be like. Also means I’ve never seen what actually fails on them either. Should be interesting

Here is Marlin’s video showing how the parts go together. This is interesting. I definitely have Moogs on my early JBA lift, not these.

Very neat. I guess as long as my housing isn’t worn out - I should be go to go. curious still about what part/s failed that caused the clunk

Aceofspades said:

Very neat. I guess as long as my housing isn’t worn out - I should be go to go. curious still about what part/s failed that caused the clunk

Click to expand...

Not enough grease is usually the start of wear
very easy to rebuild , tore mine apart before they were ever installed since they were the first just to see what all was involved

Since I will eventually need new JBA UBJ’s...

Does Marlin send the boot washers with the ball joints or do you have to order them separately? I noticed they were a separate item on his website.

lfhoward said:

Since I will eventually need new JBA UBJ’s...

Does Marlin send the boot washers with the ball joints or do you have to order them separately? I noticed they were a separate item on his website.

Click to expand...

This kit will rebuild 2 JBA-K6292 Ball Joints (only fits the JBA ball joint with 2 holes in the top cap, see picture in gallery)

1 spanner tool
2 spring washers
2 ball sockets
2 ball studs
2 boots
2 nuts

OH wait you are getting new ones so yes they are included also

tommudd said:

Not enough grease is usually the start of wear
very easy to rebuild , tore mine apart before they were ever installed since they were the first just to see what all was involved

Click to expand...

They had more grease in them then a set of lips at a bbq rib eating contest....

Aceofspades said:

They had more grease in them then a set of lips at a bbq rib eating contest....

Click to expand...

Possibly too much then, there is a fine line when/ or not adding grease,
not enough and parts wear, too much allows more moisture and small particles of dirt which also causes premature wear

Looks like I have a ball joint needing replaced in my jba arms. I would guess the housing holds up so only the rebuild kit is needed ?