Ball Joint Flip - Did you do it? Why? Why Not?

[taylorRichie]

Yes I've searched the forums... And yes I've found a lot of information :D However, I talked to a lot of people in MOAB, and now I'm confused...

Ball Joint Flip...

Did you do it? Why? Why Not?

Should I do it? Why? Why Not?

Worth the piece of mind? Is it simple enough that you might as well just do it?

Thanks!!

Richie

[ZEUS]

Read below.
Yes I've searched the forums... And yes I've found a lot of information :D However, I talked to a lot of people in MOAB, and now I'm confused...

Ball Joint Flip...

Did you do it? Yes. Why? Because my alignment wouldn't take and I wore out my tires very quickly.

Should I do it? Yes. Why? Because you plan on lifting pretty high - 912's and coil spacers is just a bit more than most in Moab had. A few VX's have experienced steering wobble. Mine started to awhile after I lifted but it disappeared after I flipped the bj's.

Worth the piece of mind? Yes, to me it was - my newish tires are wearing evenly. Is it simple enough that you might as well just do it? Yes, especially when you lift as high as you want, you should just plan on doing it - it is very simple to do.

Thanks!!

Richie

[nfpgasmask]

I just lifted a week before Moab, Big-O had no problem aligning me. So, did not flip.

Bart

[tom4bren]

I was going to flip mine but then realized goonie bird Zeus did his - that convinced me that mine should remain stock:)

[crager34]

I did it, because I found on the forums more that it should be done, than it doesn't have to be done. It's really only about an extra 10 minutes work on each side, if the bolts come out easy enough.

[WormGod]

I am to the understanding that if you lift over 2", it is recommended simply to allow for lower arm drop for climbing and to allow for a more grounded camber when aligning. It also sounds like it doesn't affect wear on boots one way or the other though. Unsure about that bit.

On the flip-side, it really isn't necessary if you only decide to crank your torsion up less than the height mentioned above. I researched this on the forums again recently as well since I am considering cranking up about 1" in the front to remedy some sag and getting some tighter, more solid shocks (ya, I LOVE a hard ride). This is the conclusion I came upon from the information available, whether right or wrong, so don't take my word for it, heh.

[taylorRichie]

Well hopefully after more people respond to this thread it'll be a one stop shop for all your ball joint needs ;) I'll flip mine, if for no other reason than, It can't hurt TOO flip them, but it may hurt if you don't.

:D

[Kenny]

A how to link:
http://www.planetisuzoo.com/articles.htm?id=78&Isuzu_Ball_Joint_Flip/Spacer_Howto


I think most would recommend it if you lift +2" and crank the torsion bars.
It will only improve things i think, I'm not sure of any downsides.:confused:

It does relieve some of the camber put into the tires by lifting the front end (flipping the ball joints sort of "kicks out" the bottom of the front tires outwards)

If you have wider tires and non-stock rims that stick out, I can see the effects being more noticeable; and tire wear and alignment more of an issue.

My $0.02.

[Ldub]

A how to link:
http://www.planetisuzoo.com/articles.htm?id=78&Isuzu_Ball_Joint_Flip/Spacer_Howto


I think most would recommend it if you lift +2" and crank the torsion bars.
It will only improve things i think, I'm not sure of any downsides.:confused:

It does relieve some of the camber put into the tires by lifting the front end (flipping the ball joints sort of "kicks out" the bottom of the front tires outwards)

If you have wider tires and non-stock rims that stick out, I can see the effects being more noticeable; and tire wear and alignment more of an issue.

My $0.02.

Yah...what Kenny said...:_wrench:

My thoughts were, if I don't flip them & it can't be brought within spec, then I'll have to go through about 1/3 of the steps I just completed & have another trip to the alignment shop.
IMO, it takes a bit more time, tools & effort (a small-medium two jaw bearing/ball joint puller from NAPA helps a LOT), but in the end, worth it to me for not having the possibility of repeating work, & two trips to the alignment shop.

[jonnybegood]

Bringing this thread back from the dead? Hope that's cool. I've been trying to research doing this on the VX and every link on this site is dead (404). Can anyone send me to a build that isn't dead? I need closure!

[JoFotoz]

IMO..not required.

Some do..some dont.

I have 35 inch tires..T/bar crank and diff drop
( diff drop needed on anything over 33's IMO)..
...no ball joint flip.
I get regular GOOD alignments..... no issues.

What size tire are you going up to ?

Cheers
Jo