Upper Ball Joints Shot at 32k

dal1980 · August 9, 2017

So I had my alignment done roughly 6 months ago after installing a 2" leveling kit and some new tires ( BFG AT KO2). I was doing a tire rotation and noticed my right front tire was cupped quite a bit on the outside edge. The alignment shop I went to carries a 1 year warranty on alignments so I figured I would take it back and have them check the alignment and adjust if necessary. Now, a week ago when I rotated my tires, I shook down the front as I always do as part of my routine maintenence and everything was tight. The alignment shop called me and told me that my right upper balljoint is bad and the left has some play in it. Now, for those of us with the z71 package with aluminum control arms already know or will find out, that the upper ball joint is non-serviceable and requires an upper control arm replacment. Im wondering if this guy just doesnt want to do the alignment again on his dime? I am going to check this thing out again tonight when i get home but I suspect he is feeding me a line as the truck only has 32,000 miles on it. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Similar experience?

Yes I am aware of the leveling kit and bigger heavier tires prematurely wearing front end parts, but this stuff has only been on about 6,000 miles.

If its the case I will be attempting to fight this out with GM as a non-serviceable part should have a longer service life than 32k, especially considering that replacing the entire upper control arm is necessary.

It's Tim · August 9, 2017

If the 3/36 is gone, it's all on you now.

dal1980 · August 9, 2017

If the 3/36 is gone, it's all on you now.

Truck is a 2014, 32K miles and 3 years is up in December, so I should be able to scoot right in under the gun.....Hopefully!

It's Tim · August 9, 2017

The part is ~$155.00, not really the end of the world if you don't.

gonzoid · August 9, 2017

Hard to believe its worn out

Rolling Thunder · August 9, 2017

So I had my alignment done roughly 6 months ago after installing a 2" leveling kit and some new tires ( BFG AT KO2). I was doing a tire rotation and noticed my right front tire was cupped quite a bit on the outside edge. The alignment shop I went to carries a 1 year warranty on alignments so I figured I would take it back and have them check the alignment and adjust if necessary. Now, a week ago when I rotated my tires, I shook down the front as I always do as part of my routine maintenence and everything was tight. The alignment shop called me and told me that my right upper balljoint is bad and the left has some play in it. Now, for those of us with the z71 package with aluminum control arms already know or will find out, that the upper ball joint is non-serviceable and requires an upper control arm replacment. Im wondering if this guy just doesnt want to do the alignment again on his dime? I am going to check this thing out again tonight when i get home but I suspect he is feeding me a line as the truck only has 32,000 miles on it. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Similar experience?

Yes I am aware of the leveling kit and bigger heavier tires prematurely wearing front end parts, but this stuff has only been on about 6,000 miles.

If its the case I will be attempting to fight this out with GM as a non-serviceable part should have a longer service life than 32k, especially considering that replacing the entire upper control arm is necessary.

Warranty_Silverado Suspension Mod 1116 (003).pdf

Sierra706 · August 10, 2017

Not out of the realm of possibility. Mine wore pretty quickly after leveling.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HondaHawkGT · August 10, 2017

Leveling kits eat ball joints. Since you need new control arms, you could buy aftermarket upper control arms to bring your ball joint angles back to stock. Plus some control arms allow for bolt-on ball joints that make eeplacing them easy. My Cognito's are set up that way.

dal1980 · August 10, 2017

Leveling kits eat ball joints. Since you need new control arms, you could buy aftermarket upper control arms to bring your ball joint angles back to stock. Plus some control arms allow for bolt-on ball joints that make eeplacing them easy. My Cognito's are set up that way.

I researched them alot on this forum prior to purchasing. I knew going into it that lifespan would be shortened on the ball joints, but didnt realize it would eat them at 6,000 miles. I talked to the dealer yesterday and have an appointment for them to look at it tomorrow. The dealer seemed to indicate that even with a leveling kit, 6k seemed premature, we will see. The cheapest I found the uppers was about $245/side from NAPA. If I am getting into $500 for uppers I will certainly be buying aftermarket from Camburg or Cognito for a few hundred more. At least the Camburg's have a serviceable uni-ball and are far stronger than the stock units.

Sierra706 · August 10, 2017

I researched them alot on this forum prior to purchasing. I knew going into it that lifespan would be shortened on the ball joints, but didnt realize it would eat them at 6,000 miles. I talked to the dealer yesterday and have an appointment for them to look at it tomorrow. The dealer seemed to indicate that even with a leveling kit, 6k seemed premature, we will see. The cheapest I found the uppers was about $245/side from NAPA. If I am getting into $500 for uppers I will certainly be buying aftermarket from Camburg or Cognito for a few hundred more. At least the Camburg's have a serviceable uni-ball and are far stronger than the stock units.

.

Don't buy factory. If you don't want to drop the money on cognito or similar, atleast get moog. They are greaseable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dal1980 · August 10, 2017

The only way I will use factory again is if they are free under warranty. I hate not having serviceable steering components, I need this truck to last well over 150k+ like my last SIlverado. ill be go to hell if I am replacing control arms every 30k. I have a buddy with a 2014 that currently has 168,000 miles on it and never replaced ball joints, albeit highway miles. Everything is disposable nowadays, including truck parts. Im just happy to have the aftermarket support for the "weak links" on newer vehicles, as we dont all lease or trade in every few years.

L86 All Terrain · August 10, 2017

Ball joints are a wear item and probably not covered under warranty especially with the level, although I could be wrong. That is what causes premature UBJ wear because of the increased angles from the level. This is why people that install 2.5"+ usually swap the UCAs on the K2's. If you do any hard driving/off-roading with a level, you should have an upgraded UCA, which will alleviate the ball joint concerns and add serviceability. 75k on my leveled 2010 when I traded it, never touched a wear item and it was "GM Certified" used to the next owner, so there was life left in it yet.

dorkweed · August 11, 2017

Let's all change the design parameters of our vehicles and when they malfunction...........lets get the manufacturer to pay for it!!!

Ever wonder why new vehicles cost so much??!!

dal1980 · August 11, 2017

Let's all change the design parameters of our vehicles and when they malfunction...........lets get the manufacturer to pay for it!!!

Ever wonder why new vehicles cost so much??!!

While I can appreciate the mindset, the leveling kit was on for less than 6k miles. Moreover, many dealerships are selling these trucks with the leveling kits already installed and carrying factory warranty with it. IF they lasted 50 or 60K I wouldnt be having this conversation. Im more irritated at the fact that WE will all need to buy entire control arms rather that a $20 ball joint when these fail, lift kit or no lift kit. I was prepared to replace front end parts due to my decision to lift the front end of the truck, just not after 6k miles. Also, with it failing when it did, I have little to no faith that I would have gotten great service life out of them with no leveling kit.

Rolling Thunder · August 11, 2017

While I can appreciate the mindset, the leveling kit was on for less than 6k miles. Moreover, many dealerships are selling these trucks with the leveling kits already installed and carrying factory warranty with it. IF they lasted 50 or 60K I wouldnt be having this conversation. Im more irritated at the fact that WE will all need to buy entire control arms rather that a $20 ball joint when these fail, lift kit or no lift kit. I was prepared to replace front end parts due to my decision to lift the front end of the truck, just not after 6k miles. Also, with it failing when it did, I have little to no faith that I would have gotten great service life out of them with no leveling kit.

Your lift kit is NOT a factory warranty, it's your dealer's warranty. There are NO direct OEM factory lift kits. These dealers send them out after they are received from the GM assembly plants.