Part 2 - EMF Upper Ball Joint Play Tutorial

Has a Mechanic told you your EMF Dodge upper ball joints are shot? I get this call constantly on my tech line by worried customers. We've found the first thing shops do is call ball joints. Either it's because they're used to them always failing, or they know the owners are under the impression that Dodge ball joints suck and they're used to replacing them. So it's easy money.
I've spent years developing and researching ball joints and take it as a personal insult when mechanics call our ball joints and lump them in with the garbage that's out there.
This video shows you the insides of upper ball joints, explains how they work, shows different designs and shows you why its impossible for our joints to ever be "too loose" It also demonstrates different levels of play, how to measure that play properly with a dial indicator and goes over the factory specs we pulled up from Dodge.
This second half of a two part video offers knowledge to our customers, as well informs their mechanics about our ball joints.

[@TrevorCazes]

just got an alignment done and the entire tech crew was all compliments on the quality of my emf ball joints. simply the best there is!

[@EMFEVO]

That's awesome to here.

[@CerebralTA]

6 years ago and 200,000km on the same mooge setup in our 04 2500 set up. We run a slide in camper setup in our truck so we are normally 6300lbs on the steer axle. Lasting great so far. But we grease it regularly with quality greases. We will be upgrading to the EMF products in the near future as we convert our truck to and overland setup. for some awesome adventures we would like to go off the normal path

[@Southparker100000000]

This answered a lot of questions for me thanks! I had a mechanic recently swear up and down that my one upper ball joint was fucked because it moved up and down a little. I suspect he is just used to replacing shitty moog ball joints. I've had these on for about 4 years and i haven't needed to tighten the lowers even once. Also shout out to *Deputy Diesel* for the recommending me your products.

[@Dirtyol12valve]

Bout to order my 3rd set of ball joints from you guys. I recently picked up my 3rd dodge diesel and it’s one of the first things I gotta do. First set went in my 01 which is my daily and they still are tight. Not sure on mileage but I’d say about 80-100k miles on them. I’m in ne Ohio we have pretty decent winters and I haul heavy equipment for Amish on a lot of bad dirt roads. I don’t even worry about anything anymore. Thanks for making the best joint money can buy 👍

[@UncleScriff]

Great information. Just installed your ball joint kit on my '16 last week. Used the Matco BJP18100, less than 10 minutes in and out. Great tool for the job. Excellent quality ball joints. Getting an alignment up here at Irvs in Wetaskiwin shortly. The tech was pumped to hear I installed EMF's. Amazing reputation at EMF. Great work guys, thanks!

[@EMFEVO]

Make sure the caster is 5 degrees or more and a tow of .15 or better. Especially if it's a 2500 or if. It's leveled.

[@EMFEVO]

Thanks!

[@jeremyhowell2332]

.15 or better as in further from zero i.e. .15+ or the other way. Mine was at .15 but I asked the tech to go by thuren’s spec of 0.00-0.05 degrees. Truck still doesn’t drive great, all new Carli parts in the front and EMF ball joints. 2004 ram 2500 for reference. I keep adding more caster a little at a time, but my 45 year old squarebody k30 still drives better. I keep trying though…

[@jaythacker5160]

U just answered my question. Thanks

[@DSGB2199]

I recently had my truck on a lift doing brakes so i thought id check the play ( have your joints installed ). Passenger wheel i could just barely feel a rocking sensation when grabbing tire by hand. Driver side i couldnt feel. Should i tighten that side or just grease it? I grease them often about 2x each over 20k miles.

[@jaythacker5160]

So what do y’all think is acceptable number to keep in your brain for time to rebuild a joint ? More than .010 axial play on the lower and more than .005 or so radial play in the upper? Thanks great demonstration. I’m buying y’all’s next.

[@dalemcfadyen6893]

I would say 0.020" in the lower and 0.005" to o.o10" in the upper. Grease will take up quite a bit.

[@daviddroescher]

Do you consider the tire feathering on modern trucks (unitized bearings) is caused by balljoint play or an inherent design failure of unit bearings placing the bearings too close to each other to resist gyroscopic forces/ bumps.The consistency of the feathering indicates a harmonic resonance that is not being resisted due to excessive play somewhere. I lean told the unit bearing because the problem did not exist on my older trucks ( '79 k20) were 20k mi without a rotation and no feathering with many different brands and sizes of tires compared to audible feathering at 3k and visable by 5k mi and by 7k the dire is damaged beyond saving with rotation .

[@codyjones1539]

So why do the other have a ball but yours and the Carlis don’t don’t you need that ball so they don’t bind up? I know the mopar ones rotate on a ball

[@noahwoodland59]

Where can I get a set?

[@rpment6385]

Can you use an electric grease gun?

[@rawr123482]

No definitely not, follow there greasing instructions. Should be done every oil change to keep it easy

[@guhusslin]

If you dont use EMF ball joints. Then PHUCK YEW