Bad brand new spicer ball joint or normal?

[Got4wd]

Jeff’s refunded me for the ball joints. They said the play was normal but the end play was not. I disagree. I ordered another set of spicers just to see another set. (my curiosity)

 

[DirtDonk]

Ordered from the same source, or an alternate?

 

[DirtDonk]

When we got a big order of Raybestos front bearing hubs once, we found that there had been a change (probably in their source supplier overseas) that included machining the splines to a too-shallow depth.
Well, the customers found the problem first!!
Couldn’t install most aftermarket, including Warn locking hubs.
Inspected and they were all bad, so had to return them and find a different supplier.

I hope Spicer hasn’t fallen down that same hole.

 

[Got4wd]

Ordered from the same source, or an alternate?

I had a credit at Amazon so I had them send a set. Easy to return if they are the same.

 

[Tricky Dick]

This is 100% true for Early Broncos. But keep in mind that the upper ball joints in newer axles are not ball joints. They are just called "ball joints" when they don't even have a ball. They are actually sliding joints, or cylindrical joints. It's just a pin with a hat. These will slide up to 1/8 inch axially quite easily. And they spin super easy. You can drive yourself crazy trying to keep them from spinning on the taper.

Here's a cutaway pic of a factory sliding upper ball joint from Moog. Lots of Wranglers and Ram trucks get "ball joint deleted" as well.
AGAIN, not applicable to the open knuckle D44 from 71-79. Apologies to @toddz69 for my 2.5 year delay in responding to your post in the other thread. When I leave for vacation, I don't always catch back up.

I wasn't aware of these sliding joints, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tricky Dick]

I had a credit at Amazon so I had them send a set. Easy to return if they are the same.

I'm curious what you get. I've heard counterfeits are common on Amazon. Mind sharing the link?

 

[Got4wd]

It’s from the spicer store so I was curious.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018OGII9G/?tag=classicbroncos-20

 

[Tricky Dick]

It’s from the spicer store so I was curious.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018OGII9G/?tag=classicbroncos-20

Sounds pretty safe.

 

[Got4wd]

New ones showed up and typical Amazon auto fashion, one box was open. Missing the paper that is wrapped around the joints. I did notice labeling on the boxes are different. The one with the smaller label, lower seemed way better but the upper was still loose. The second box with the larger label was much better. I would say on par with older ball joints. I had Amazon replace the open box with a new order. I will see what shows up. I did notice that the grease wasn’t all around the ball.

 

[nvrstuk]

This is 100% true for Early Broncos. But keep in mind that the upper ball joints in newer axles are not ball joints. They are just called "ball joints" when they don't even have a ball. They are actually sliding joints, or cylindrical joints. It's just a pin with a hat. These will slide up to 1/8 inch axially quite easily. And they spin super easy. You can drive yourself crazy trying to keep them from spinning on the taper.

Here's a cutaway pic of a factory sliding upper ball joint from Moog. Lots of Wranglers and Ram trucks get "ball joint deleted" as well.
AGAIN, not applicable to the open knuckle D44 from 71-79. Apologies to @toddz69 for my 2.5 year delay in responding to your post in the other thread. When I leave for vacation, I don't always catch back up.

Thanks for sharing that info James.... good stuff!

 

[bmc69]

Jeff’s refunded me for the ball joints. They said the play was normal but the end play was not. I disagree. I ordered another set of spicers just to see another set. (my curiosity)

I've thrown away D44 ball joints with less play/slop than those exhibited.

 

[nvrstuk]

I've thrown away D44 ball joints with less play/slop than those exhibited.

Exactly!

 

[Got4wd]

Another day another retaped box. New delivery for tomorrow. I guess I will keep ordering until I get a new box set. I really want to see if I get a bigger label set again since those were good.

 

[Got4wd]

This is the last time doing this, but they all got returned. Another open box and 2 uppers in this one. Another reason I don’t buy car parts from Bezo. It’s always a cluster. I needed an alternator for a car I was helping on. She ordered from Amazon. New. It showed up used and beat to shit. No idea how the return policy works but it sucks.

 

[DirtDonk]

How was the relative looseness/tightness on that one?

 

[Got4wd]

How was the relative looseness/tightness on that one?

It was loose also. The only set that was decent was the larger Label one.

 

[DirtDonk]

Did you say whether or not you have stopped by any local auto parts store and tested one off the shelf?
Any brand? Or better yet, multiple brands?
I’d like to think somebody has at least some that are normal-tight to compare to.

 

[serial car restorer]

Yeah, considering the results from ordering online, I'd head to my local NAPA and tell them what you've experienced, and have them get you a set that you can inspect before you leave the store.

 

[Got4wd]

Did you say whether or not you have stopped by any local auto parts store and tested one off the shelf?
Any brand? Or better yet, multiple brands?
I’d like to think somebody has at least some that are normal-tight to compare to.

I’m going go to Napa Monday to see. They had to order them in. Will report back.

 

[DirtDonk]

Thanks for doing all the “research” on this one.
But hey, maybe all that looseness is a result of decades of research and development and they decided that they were made wrong all along.
So what we’re seeing is the new and improved version.
Remember when that mode of advertising was all the rage? Everything was the “new and improved” model.