randys blog
Knurled Or Smooth: Which Ball Joint Is Right For You?
First and foremost, knurled ball joints are a last resort not a first or better option. They are only to be used on suspensions that have knuckle bores and/or housing end forgings that are so worn they can no longer properly accept a smooth-body ball joint. A knurled ball joint has grooves machined into its body that serve to fatten the body, allowing the unit to press into an enlarged mounting space tightly. Bore wear can be trail abuse but usually means you have changed ball joints a number of times and the bore has succumbed to the pressure of being pressed in place. The result is those knuckle bores or end forgings have become enlarged or out of round such that a ball joint body which is the correct diameter may not fit. If you don't need the extra tightness we strongly recommend you don't use a knurled ball joint. Beware. We know that a lot of our competitors and many aftermarket service parts out there automatically come with knurled bodies. The problem is once you install a knurled ball joint you have no where to go when the knuckle bores or end forgings wear. If a knurled joint is your first service part you have sacrificed the future because you have willingly enlarged the bores and down the road you'll eventually get to a point where nothing fits. So only install a knurled ball joint because a normal smooth body unit will not press in tight enough. RANDYS offers ball joints from Yukon, Dynatrac, and ICON Vehicle Dynamics, and some applications feature both smooth and knurled body designs. Shop Ball Joints
Yukon Total Takeover
The Yukon Total Takeover, a nationwide one-day event held March 18, afforded shops the opportunity to provide special pricing on Yukon gear sets and installation. More than 50 shops participated in the program. The Takeover was the culmination of eight weeks of hard work and coordination, developing a program that highlighted both Yukon parts and the skill and competency of participating shops. The shops were also able to create awareness for their business on a regional and national level. It was a successful day as many shops offered live music, raffles, meet and greets, and more for their local communities and as a result, are now booking and extending discounts weeks past the event date. Keep an eye out for the next Takeover and be ready to get involved.
Yukon Total Takeover
The Yukon Total Takeover, a nationwide one-day event held March 18, afforded shops the opportunity to provide special pricing on Yukon gear sets and installation. More than 50 shops participated in the program. The Takeover was the culmination of eight weeks of hard work and coordination, developing a program that highlighted both Yukon parts and the skill and competency of participating shops. The shops were also able to create awareness for their business on a regional and national level. It was a successful day as many shops offered live music, raffles, meet and greets, and more for their local communities and as a result, are now booking and extending discounts weeks past the event date. Keep an eye out for the next Takeover and be ready to get involved.
Axle Measuring 101
How you go about measuring an axle depends on the axle type. Axles with yokes (front axle shafts) are measured from the center of the u-joint bore to the end of the splines. Semi-float and C-clip-equipped axle shafts are measured from the end of the shaft to the outer edge of the mounting flange. Full-float designs are measured from the spline ends to the front surface of the mounting flange. Check out the accompanying schematics for more on how to measure each axle type. Shop Axle Kits
Axle Measuring 101
How you go about measuring an axle depends on the axle type. Axles with yokes (front axle shafts) are measured from the center of the u-joint bore to the end of the splines. Semi-float and C-clip-equipped axle shafts are measured from the end of the shaft to the outer edge of the mounting flange. Full-float designs are measured from the spline ends to the front surface of the mounting flange. Check out the accompanying schematics for more on how to measure each axle type. Shop Axle Kits