Ball Joint Delete™ System 1103: Jeep (1990-2017) Installation Instructions

American Iron Offroad Balljoint Delete Systems™ 1103 Install Instructions

 

THIS IS NOT A BALLJOINT. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL TORQUE SPECS AND SEQUENCES. Instructions are found on the QR code inside your box!

1.     Prior to install- place assembled joints in freezer for 1-2 hours to allow the material to contract. It will result in easier press fits during install.

2.     Begin by installing studs into the outer knuckle as seen in pic below.

 

 

3.     Using a 5/16” Allen Key (hex) hold the top of the stud while using a 15/16” socket to tighten the 5/8-18 nylock to 40-50ft/lbs. Please apply blue Loctite to the threads of the stud prior to tightening.

 

 

4.     Insert upper stud into knuckle as shown below. Apply blue Loctite to the threads and use a 7/8” socket tighten the 9/16-18 nylock to 40-50ft/lbs. DON’T FORGET YOUR ABS BRACKET BEFORE TORQUING THE NYLOCK!

 

 

 

5.     Moving to the inner C’s- Using a balljoint press, press lower housing from the bottom into the bore of the inner C. Pay close attention to starting the housing straight into the bore. The pic to the left is for reference and shows the order of assembly of the lower joint. The Viton seal sets in the pre-greased groove and the Delrin shim sets on top of it. Both are recessed into the housing. You do not need to disassemble the joint- pic is for reference only. Leave the joint body assembled when pressing into the inner C as it will prevent contamination.

Press on the housing themselves and NOT the bearings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.     Now repeat this process for the upper housing by pressing it downward from the top while leaving the joint assembled. See pics below:

7.      You should now have an inner C that looks like the pic below. Ensure the housings are pressed into the bores fully to the shoulder.

 

8.     Before applying grease- ensure both bearings are even (not misaligned in housings) to make Step 9 easier. Greasing- apply grease to the top of the upper joint and the bottom of the lower joint housing around the inside of it where the snap ring is visible. This is to properly seal the joint once assembled, keeping water infiltration to a minimum. Clean any grease from the bore of the bearing before moving onto the next step.

Apply the steel shim to the bottom of the lower joint (grease will help it stick in place), and put the seal/shim back into the upper joint after greasing.

9.      You should now have studs installed into the outer knuckles and housings installed into the inner C’s. Slide/tap the knuckle upward.

10.                        Apply blue Loctite to the threads of the lower stud. Using a 1 1/16” (or 27mm) 12-point socket, tighten the low profile nylock to 35ft/lbs. (Typically 6 point socket OD’s are too large to fit into the housing to tighten the nylock.)

 

 

11.                        Follow the same sequence for the top nylock and torque the top nylock of the upper assembly to 20ft/lbs only. Don’t forget to apply blue Loctite to the threads of the upper stud prior to torquing nylock.

 

12.                        Your install should be complete! Double check to ensure the steering stop is centered on the stop pad which is casted into the inner C. This alignment is indicated by the red line. You can also mark this prior to install if desired.

 

PRIOR TO FINAL ASSEMBLY OF AXLE:

·        Rotate knuckles by hand to check rotational resistance. Each knuckle should rotate with moderate firmness.

 

AFTER FINAL ASSEMBLY/DRIVABILITY ADJUSTMENTS:

·        An alignment should be performed after installation. We typically recommend 5 degrees of positive caster and 1/8” toe-in per side.

·        To adjust steering feel: increasing torque of uppermost nylock will increase steering stiffness and driving characteristics. Drive at normal speeds prior to adjustment. Min torque value for uppermost nylock is 15ft/lbs and max is 30-35ft/lbs depending on usage. Most daily driven vehicles are at the 20ft/lb setting.

·        If adjustment is made- ONLY ADJUST IN 5FT/LB INCREMENTS PREFERABLY GOING UPWARD AND NOT LOOSENING. A nylock will lose some effectiveness with cycles of loosening/tightening so it’s always best to go up and not down.

 

Thank you for choosing American Iron Offroad! If you have any questions, please use the FAQ sticker on the front of the box before contacting us- 99% of questions can be answered quickly by using that resource.