Whats wrong with Extended Ball Joints??!!

[MattyzST]

I realize this has been flogged to death this Strut Spacer business, but can anyone tell me why i am constantly told that using Extended Ball Joints is a big no no??I have installed Strut spacers and as you are aware the UCA is hitting the top of the strut tower.
I am not a millionaire so to solve this i am going to install extended ball joints rather then buying new modified UCA's.I was told today on the phone by a reputable 4WD Specialist company i wont name but go by the name of a certain reptile that using extended ball joints was the dodgiest thing going around and that i should be purchasing new UCA's. Then went on to tell me they can supply them. At nearly $1000
I know the extended ball joints are not approved and are probably technically illegal but so is removing the Cat from your exhaust and blocking the EGR.I was also told that my CV's and other joints will now let go and my steering will go to s*#t.
How many people have used the Extended Ball joints and have you had any dramas?
There is plenty of talk on this topic but it all starts to head away from budget options for the fix, rather talking about all the different types of UCA's out there.

Thanks in advance guys..

 

[ourd40]

There are quite a few people that use them and seems ok so far, no reported failures.. I think you can get new upper control arms for just over $500 delivered from performance suspension I think i read the other day. They also supply the extended ball joints as well..

 

[MattyzST]

Yeah thats who i have purchased them from just waiting for them to arrive..

 

[tweak'e]

i only know the extended bj that are used in toyotas. no issue with them breaking. only thing is top and bottom A arms are now at different angles and follow different arcs so the camber varies as the wheel travels up/down.
it doesn't seam to make bugger all effect with the smaller bj spacers.

theres usually more issues with body spacers than bj spacers.

 

[Brownie82]

Performance Suspension Do the ball joints for $150 ish no one ive spoken too has had a bad drama with them.

They also have just released new upper control arms. They are $595 pair. But they have sols out on the 1st round and there is a 3 month waiting list.

Or a guy has just bought some UCA's from the states for $495 ish delivered. From Head Strong Offroad. I Ideally UCA's would be better but extended ball joints would get you out of trouble for a while..

 

[Johnkathy81]

Also got mine from Headstrong, very good service and will have them within a week.

 

[4 naving]

Removing a Cat or blocking the egr is not an excuse for insurance to not pay a claim in an accident
. Extended ball joins could be used to void a claim as it does effect handling no matter how small.. Just be aware that if you have an accident it could all turn pear shaped on you pretty quickly..
. If you had uca fitted by a reputable suspension company such as fulcrum and the like this would not be the case as they are experts and the insurance would have to listen to there expert opinion...
Just something to consider..

 

[MattyzST]

Ball Joints were fitted last week. No problems as yet, alignment was fine and the suspension place fitting them had no problem doing so.
Clearance is back to standard.

 

[Vigilante]

Ball Joints were fitted last week. No problems as yet, alignment was fine and the suspension place fitting them had no problem doing so.
Clearance is back to standard.

So I presume you installed the ball joints as you have a levelling spacer above your lifted strut?

 

[MattyzST]

So I presume you installed the ball joints as you have a levelling spacer above your lifted strut?

Yes that is correct!!