Jinxed myself D44 Rubi front

[Modeler]

So I jinxed myself in Liv2Ryd's thread on his D44 Rubi Axle. On the most recent Rausch trip I overtaxed the driver front again, started making the same noise it was making on the trip when everyone broke in the first few minutes. This time was on the Chromoly Ten Factory shafts. That is now 2 passenger side stock shafts and the driver chromo shaft has bent ears.

I had replaced the driver side UJ on the Ten Factory back in December when I had to replace the hubs to pass inspection. Ball Joints were good at that time and all was fine until we went down the "closed during winter" trail that brings you down past Crawl Daddy on Friday, I caught the driver front in an undercut, over-torqued it, and the UJ started making noise after that. Quit early on Saturday as the noise started getting worse.

Did an off the ground inspection and found that the inner and outer ears were bent, u-joint is damaged, and the ball joints were now toast too.

Ordered RCV axles and Teraflex ball joints since they are supposed to clear the RCV boots. Well, they don't. Got the outer knuckles clearanced, ball joints installed and the shafts inserted. When I went to line up the hub I noticed that the boot was already contacting the top of the frog eyes where the Zerks are.

Will be calling RCV to see which ball joints actually fit, in the meanwhile, anyone know what works? I need knurled ones as the Teraflex were knurled.

[MDSRACING398]

Synergy work. As I recall but it has been a few years. Tereflex say right in the description do not work with RCV shafts.

[Modeler]

Thanks Mark.

On Q-tech's website the description said it would, I never looked on TeraFlex's website until just now where it says they won't. Even worse, the Synergy was what was in there when I pilled it apart, they were in for 5 years and finally gave up.

[MDSRACING398]

Thank sucks! Hopefully they press back out easy for you surely someone will buy them.

[Modeler]

I can see the ad now.

TeraFlex Knurled Ball Joints, only installed once for 24 hours and greased. Never wheeled, clean title.

[BlackNBlue-ISH]

I can see the ad now.

TeraFlex Knurled Ball Joints, only installed once for 24 hours and greased. Never wheeled, clean title.

I presume these would be good for someone who needs ball joints that also needs knurled, but isn’t running RCVs.

I got that description, but don’t need balljoints yet, and would like to avoid the knurl until it’s necessary.

[Modeler]

I can see the ad now.

TeraFlex Knurled Ball Joints, only installed once for 24 hours and greased. Never wheeled, clean title.

I presume these would be good for someone who needs ball joints that also needs knurled, but isn’t running RCVs.

I got that description, but don’t need balljoints yet, and would like to avoid the knurl until it’s necessary.

You would be correct. I was on my fourth install of ball joints when I went to knurled. Those Synergy ones lasted nearly five years after that. So, three sets in the first seven years convinced me to try them, glad I did too. If they had smooth ones I may have tried those.

Pissed at myself that I didn't stay with them and tried the TeraFlex ones.

[Modeler]

Called Synergy and asked them if I could order just two lowers, their tech support was very helpful and was able to process the order that way. Will be here later this week.

[MDSRACING398]

Good to hear!

[Kurt]

Nice!

[WeekendWrangler]

Ordered RCV axles and Teraflex ball joints since they are supposed to clear the RCV boots. Well, they don't.

Hi. I'm not sure about your setup by I am running this combo exactly. Yes, they are *really* close, but no contact. The ball joints must be installed with the grease ports facing outward and straight out (there is almost zero room for misalignment). I have about 1-2mm clearance between the grease port and the RCV boot.

lmk, I can get pics or find me at the next couple runs (8/1, 8/15).

[WeekendWrangler]

Also if anyone would like lightly used (only 2hrs) lower ball joint (only tried on once!), let me know... I have one as well.

[Modeler]

The JK and TJ/LJ setups are different. There is even more interference if you were to put the frogeyes facing out on a TJ.

[Frank]

Big D Ive never heard of anyone beating up on a 44 so hard in one year. Remind me not to follow you. FjR68

[Modeler]

Yeah, that and bad luck.

Ball joints arrived today, will get them installed on Sunday. Have family coming over to sort through the items we got from my Dad's condo a few weeks ago on this Saturday afternoon.