Jeep JK Ball Joint Delete Install Guide: Ai-1103 Gen 2 Step by Step
First thing, and we're going to say it in caps like the instructions do: THIS IS NOT A BALL JOINT. If you go at it like a regular ball joint swap you'll probably get it done....but you'll fight it more than you need to and you might skip a step that matters. So here's how we walk a JK owner through the Ai-1103 Gen 2, in order, with the stuff we wish everyone knew before they started.
Before you start: is it actually your ball joints?
We're not going to sell you a fix for a problem you don't have. If you're doing this because of death wobble, check your track bar, tie rod ends, drag link, control arms, wheel bearings & steering box first. Our death wobble post goes through all of it. If the joints are the worn link, or you're just done pressing joints, let's go.
What do you need?
- The Ai-1103 Gen 2 kit (same kit covers 1990-2017 JK, TJ, YJ & XJ)
- A ball joint press
- Basic hand tools, Allen keys and the sockets called out on the sheet (one of them is a 12-point that a lot of guys don't have laying around, check before you start)
- Blue Loctite & grease
- A torque wrench- there are specs AND a sequence, follow both
- The instructions. They're on a QR code inside your box, and also on our 1103 install instructions page
We're not going to retype every torque number here on purpose. Use the sheet. Numbers copied from a blog post or a forum are how people end up calling us.
How do you install the Ai-1103 Gen 2?
Here's the order with the "why" behind it. Your knuckle should be off and cleaned up first...C's too:
- Freeze the joints. Put the assembled joints in the freezer for a couple hours before install. The material contracts and the press fits go a LOT easier. Cheapest shop trick there is.
- Studs go in the outer knuckle first. Install the lower stud and the upper stud into the knuckle with blue Loctite and torque the nylocks to spec. DON'T forget your ABS bracket before you torque the upper....ask us how many times we've heard that one.
- Press the lower housing into the inner C from the bottom. Start it straight in the bore. Leave the joint assembled- it keeps junk out. Press on the housing itself, NOT the bearing.
- Press the upper housing in from the top. Same deal, joint stays assembled, push on the housing.
- Make sure they're fully seated. Both housings need to be pressed all the way to the shoulder.
- Line up & grease. Get both bearings even (not cocked in the housings) so the knuckle slides on easy. Grease per the sheet so the joint seals up & keeps water out, then clean grease out of the bearing bore.
- Slide the knuckle up onto the C. Studs in the knuckle, housings in the C, tap it up into place.
- Lower nylock, then upper nylock. Blue Loctite on both. The lower and upper do NOT get the same torque- the upper is much lighter. Follow the sheet.
- Check your steering stop. Make sure it's centered on the stop pad cast into the inner C. You can mark it before you start if you want.