30k Miles. Should I Just Put Moog Ball Joints While I Do My Leveling K

[levigarrett]

Here is the deal guys. I have read my ass off on leveling kits and excessive ball joint wear.

My questions is as followed.

 

I plan to throw a 1.5" leveling kit in my 2009 Silverado 2wd. Should I just buy the Moog Ball joints and put them in while I am putting the leveling kit in. My truck has 30k on it and shows no problems. I dont want to have to get the alignmnet once the leveling kit is installed and in 6 months (if the stock ones wear out) have to put them in and get the alignment again. I realize no one can predict the future but what is the general opinion for my application?

 

Also, can I just reaplace the ball joints on the uppers and lowers without replacing the entire Control arm? I know the uppers are sold as a UCA with the ball joint what about the lowers.

 

I have replaced lower ball joints on a 2000 ford Ranger (wasnt difficult at all). Is replacing these ball joints difficult and do they need to be pressed in for the lowers?

Thank a lot guys.

[mhenshaw]

I installed a 2" Rc leveling kit at 40k then I installed Moog UCA at 70k. My ball joints were not shot, I just got a great deal on the new UCA.

 

Yes you have to buy new upper control arms. The lower balljoints are pressed in (I think, I have not done mine). You will have to rent a ball joint puller from Autozone and pull the old one out. When installing ball joints I always freeze the ball joint and heat the control arm for easy installation.

 

There is no way to tell when they will go bad. Some people make it to 20k with no leveling kit and others make it to 100k on 2.5" I would just wait till you need them and do it then along with new shocks.

[levigarrett]

Thanks Matt I think your suggestion is pretty good. Those UCA are not cheap but have read they are really good quality. When I did lower ball joints before I actually beat them out. I used an air hammer to push them out and used a flat headed tool for the air hammer and walked the new ones in real slow and it worked great. They did have a 1/8 lip around the outer edge.

 

I Didnt have them pressed in and they seated perfect.

 

Thanks