D30 Ball Joint Recommendations

[orange150]

Figured I'd ask before pulling the trigger.
I'm going to replace the ball joints in the D30 from my CJ. Looking at RockAuto I was just going to order Dana brand, but is there another brand I should look into? Anything else I should do while I'm there?

I bought "1 ton" TREs from Barnes YEARS ago that I never installed that I'm going to ream the knuckle and install as well.

 

[amcjeepman]

Apex Chassis

Apex Chassis Parts

apexchassis.com

tell them amcjeepman sent you.

 

[simpleman01]

Recently replaced ball joints on my XJ's D30. After a lot of 'research' (aka reading hundreds of forum posts) the Spicer/Dana joints are still considered the best OEM style joint available from regular vendors. I got 109k on my last set running stock and eventually 31" tires. No experience or feedback I remember with the Apex joint referenced above. Description sounds really nice though. One thing I do remember - check to see if you have stock joints (smooth outer surface) or knurled ones (like Apex). The knurled ones are intentionally oversized. Moog, Apex, and others make these. Scores up the bores and once you go knurled you can't go back to smooth.

 

[shawn]

Scores up the bores and once you go knurled you can't go back to smooth.

This. Finding smooth bore ones can be a pain. Sometimes the knurled ones are called "problem solver" joints (moog brand name maybe??).