Cognito Motorsports- Replacement Upper Ball Joints

[chrisb1]

My 2008 2500HD Extended, Standard Box, Diesel had a Cognito Motorsports Leveling kit installed at 6K miles with 39K now on the truck. The

upper ball joints with the Cognito kit are wore out on both sides. I had to replace them with only 33K on the ball joints. I wanted to let

you Cognito Leveling Kit users know the Moog replacement for the upper ball joints is part number K6292. This part is much superior to

the original Cognito part.

 

My truck has 285-70-17 Nitto Terra Grapplers, hauls nothing in bed, and I tow occasionally a 5x8 Iron Eagle Utility trailer. The truck is verrrrry lightly used.

 

My Cognito local dealer verified ball joint problem and I then took it to my long term front end shop and they also said bad ball joints and showed me. They

were bad on both sides.

[treefort]

Hey thanks for the info Chris.

 

That seems kind of premature for those BJs to be bad, don't you think? I wonder if they forgot to grease them? How much have you found the Moog replacements for?

[chrisb1]

According to my Cognito dealer, Cognito ball joints were of their own design (foreign made) and did not last. The dealer complained and Cognito said they have now improved the design.

This means I had the old design. My dealer decided to never use the Cognito ball joint again and switched to the Cognito approved Moog replacement part. My truck has not hauled, towed,

or been used off road much at all. My Cognito dealer said 33k miles on GM HD ball joints is not unusual (bigger tires, leveling kit, lift kit and user use).

 

The Moog replacement part number K6292 can be found on the internet, Amazon, for about $31 each side. I paid $333 dollars for two ball joints, front end alignment, and two hours labor

to install.

[treefort]

My dealer told me today he doesn't recommend the Cognito kit as they come with 1/2 ton balljoints and crush some tab screwing up the camber or something. I'm still going to install the kit shortly here but I wonder if I got the new ball joints and if they are 3/4 ton ones.

[chrisb1]

My dealer told me today he doesn't recommend the Cognito kit as they come with 1/2 ton balljoints and crush some tab screwing up the camber or something. I'm still going to install the kit shortly here but I wonder if I got the new ball joints and if they are 3/4 ton ones.

 

They are a big player in the industry and were one of the first to actually offer complete A Arm assemblies to maintain alighment. My truck has no broken tabs and the alighment has been perfect although the upper ball joints wore out in 33k miles. Be careful the local dealer is not trying to maneuver you to another brand for no reason. Maybe contact another shop and get input.

 

I would call Cognito Motorsports if you have to and ask which you have. My kit in it's original delivered state caused no alighment issues or abnormal tire wear. Mine was fine with the exception of only 33K out of the upper ball joints. The Moog replacements are definitely 3/4-1 ton. The Moog representative was at my alignhment shop when I ordered the replacements. Cognito gave me the new Moog part number and they are heavy duty per the Moog rep. My Cognito dealer is still installing the kits but he only uses Moog for any replacements. The leveling kit itself is very good. The only change I would make is using KYB MONOMAX shocks instead of the Bilstein.

 

When I had to replace my ball joints, I had it done by my trusted long term alighment shop. I really do not care for the Gresham Four Wheel Drive owner that originally installed

my leveling kit.

[treefort]

Ok, so I asked him again and he showed me what he was talking about.

 

The ends of the cognito arms aren't as wide as stock arms so he says they squish the tabs when you tighten them down resulting in you not being able to align them properly.

 

I don't think its a big deal. And, he did say to get the Cognito pitman and idler arm support kit though. So he's not totally against Cognito.

[chrisb1]

Just do your homework. Any top quality kit with replacement A Arms will likely do the job. Mine has never had an alighment issue in 33K miles on the kit. I also do not rely on the Cognito dealer for alignments. I to to my own align;ment shop.

 

Best luck.

[treefort]

I bought the Cognitos a week ago..have only put in the shock extenders for now. The ride is wayy better. I think I am going to wait until the ball joints go on the factory arm then replace them with my ready to go Cognitos. I have also been looking at limiting straps. $40 isn't much to prolong the ball joints a little further.