UCA Failure after 48 hrs. Bilsteins at 2.1" Mevotech UCA's

[Glas]

Well after much debate on what to go with for a level, I decided on the Bilsteins set 2.1". With much research reading numerous threads of upper ball joint failure, I replaced the factory UCA's with the Mevotech's. A vast improvement in build quality to the OEM's, which are also greasable which is a big plus.

For the rear I changed out the factory coils and went with the the Tuftruck TTC-1210 for 25% stiffness, along with the Airlift 1000 with the 2 separate lines fed to the rear bumper. I also added a 3/4 rear poly coil spacer from TGC.

Measurements from the ground to the top of the fender are:

Front: 39 1/8"
Rear: 41"

I still have 2" of rake as I pull a 28' 5th wheel and did not want to be nose high.

Before:






After:







Well........48hrs later and the passenger upper ball joint failed. I had wheel alignment done yesterday morning drove the truck home and felt some clunking when turning left. Thought that perhaps something wasn't tightened from the alignment. Keep in mind I drove only on pavement and did no off roading. Crawled underneath and located this....







So now Mevotech warranty will kick in and will replace the passenger side UCA. I hope this is not the beginning of a headache of front end problems. If that's the case Bilsteins will be set to 0 and will install the factory UCA's again. I'm assuming this is a manufacturing defect. Anybody else had upper ball joint failure this fast? I replaced the UCA's in order to avoid this problem all together and here I am 48hrs later with a failure....Junk!

 

[lonewolf2873]

Correct me if im wrong but aren't the ball joints pressed in from the bottom of UCA?

 

[lonewolf2873]

Ok after looking at arms on rockauto, it seems they are pressed in like OEM.
Did you order right and left hand UCA's? Im grasping at straws here.

 

[WhiteExpress]

Often times, when a BJ is pressed from the top, there is a snap ring to retain around the bottom. I wonder if this was perhaps left off in this situation by the manufacture.

I highly doubt this will be a continued issue, and was merely a manufacturing flaw.

 

[Glas]

Ball joints are pressed in from the top so the failure makes sense that way. In regards to the left and right UCA's, I had different part numbers for the left and right in sealed boxes, so they were installed on the correct sides. I ordered part# MS251057 & MS251058 (Left and Right UCA), which has been posted as the correct UCA's although not listed for the 2014.

 

[RedNBlack]

Look at the grease fitting on top... couldn't press it in the other way.

 

[NYCruiser]

Are the mevotech's known to fix the geometric problem that causes this? I think the zone's are and also earlier Gen 4 OEM's will work. Just wondering.

 

[Glas]

From the research I have done online, the Mevotech's have a greater offset for the upper balljoint, which is attributed to the failure of the factory UCA's. However, Mevotech does not advertise that their UCA's correct upper ball joint failure. I went with the Mevotech's due to cost and they appeared to be a superior product to the OEM. Guess I was proven wrong. I know zone makes a UCA for this application, but by the time I pay exchange, shipping, and duty I'm looking at $500+.

Don't get me wrong on the Mevotech's, I think I just got a factory defect with the passenger side. The driver's side appears to fine. Also the Mevotech's are considerably heavier and appear to be better made then the OEM UCA's. I will replace the passenger side under warranty and cross my fingers that it doesn't happen again.

 

[tripower]

Put your stock UCAs back on and leave the Bilsteins at 2.1. Why install untested aftermarket parts that you don't need? For the thousandth time.... Bilsteins don't require new UCAs, spacer lifts do. Don't drink the Kool-Aid!

 

[WhiteExpress]

From the research I have done online, the Mevotech's have a greater offset for the upper balljoint, which is attributed to the failure of the factory UCA's. However, Mevotech does not advertise that their UCA's correct upper ball joint failure. I went with the Mevotech's due to cost and they appeared to be a superior product to the OEM. Guess I was proven wrong. I know zone makes a UCA for this application, but by the time I pay exchange, shipping, and duty I'm looking at $500+.

Don't get me wrong on the Mevotech's, I think I just got a factory defect with the passenger side. The driver's side appears to fine. Also the Mevotech's are considerably heavier and appear to be better made then the OEM UCA's. I will replace the passenger side under warranty and cross my fingers that it doesn't happen again.

A manufacture's defect happens. Expecting perfection is lunacy.

 

[iam_canadian22]

Put your stock UCAs back on and leave the Bilsteins at 2.1. Why install untested aftermarket parts that you don't need? For the thousandth time.... Bilsteins don't require new UCAs, spacer lifts do. Don't drink the Kool-Aid!

actually theres been a few reports of popped ball joints with bilsteins, it is more rare then using spacers but there are still some out there

 

[lonewolf2873]

Yes I agree with you guys, sounds like the rare defect from manufacture. I'm sure the replacement will be fine.

 

[B-Shot]

If your going to change the factory geometry why buy something that has the same geometry? Maybe it's ok if you have a street queen but if your going to use your truck like a truck when lifted there better options than the forum ****** like Total Chaos, Fabtech or similar.

 

[chipmaker]

Not to get off topic too much, but do guys with Bilsteins and lift kits like RCX 4" or 6" also in jeopardy of popping ball joints??

 

[lonewolf2873]

I'm installing my 5100's next weekend. I also went with Zone UCA's. Ball joint is pressed in from the bottom, opposite direction of problem, should it even think of rearing it's ugly head.
Lift probably going on in spring.

 

[DisturbedGator]

I think its a defect, I have 2k on mine no problems yet.

 

[Glas]

The replacement UCA from Mevotech should arrive tomorrow. Once I have the replacement installed I will post more pics. I am optimistic that this was indeed a manufacture defect, especially from the short period it was installed.

 

[jrod1989]

I have a 6" RCX lift with bilsteins at 2.8 and i havent had a problem yet with my mevotech UCA

 

[11BPSMIKE]

My 14 is at 2.1 stock upper arms for 6 months now without issue and I did another 14 at 2.8 without issue. Don't waste your money with uppers when using Bilsteins. However spacer lifts will pop them right away.

 

[N1ck]

Sorry to hear of all your troubles, I ran a 2.5" spacer from 2 weeks old to 31,000s and never had an issue. Small world I'm just a few kms away from you in east Regina!