Front lower ball joints

[RallyEagle]

So it seems the front lower ball joint is discontinued for Eagles (mine is a 82 SX4). I've search this site and did not find a solution. If there is a solution please direct me to it. Else, can an upper ball joint be used in stead? If so, is there any mods that have to occur to implement?
Thanks

[mudkicker715]

Oh my, this sucks. I of course hope there is an answer.

[RallyEagle]

Autozone advertises the correct one but when I place the order, they dont have them. I'll call them but it seems strange that no one seems to have them.

It just a plate extension...

[vangremlin]

RockAuto lists "DANA DS706116 Contains 1 Upper Ball Joint and 1 Lower Ball Joint".  You may also want to check with some of the AMC specialty vendors like Kennedy American.  Good luck and let us know what you find.

[Taylor]

I just checked the Kennedy American website. They have upper and lower ball joints listed. As well as control arms and sever other items I figured I wouldn’t ever find.

[RallyEagle]

The images for DANA DS706116 does not appear to be the same as OEM.  Anyone buy the upper lower kit from Rock Auto?  I have new uppers but the kit is cheaper than just the lower at Kennedy American.  I will call Kennedy American and see what they have.  Thanks for the leads.

[AMC of Houston]

That Dana number does not fit our Eagles.   Some bean counter somewhere thought that since that number fits some Jeep models, it'll fit the Eagle too!!   After all, an AMC is an AMC; right!!

[amarshall]

I tried buying some from Rockauto, but the order was cancelled after a few days when they couldn't find it on the shelf.

I ended up getting some from Autozone, and they were made by RareParts.  A little pricey (compared to RockAuto) but they worked well and have held up so far.  Everything fit like it should. I've done about 4000 miles with them, and 2500 of that was on dirt.

Looks like they are available direct from rareparts.com for $56 each.  Part number MVMK3153.

[RallyEagle]

Thanks.  I contacted them and ordered 2.  $55.51 each +s&h

I just received the Rockauto upper and lower kit ones.  Completely wrong and I am sending them back.  This is crazy.

[RallyEagle]

Well, rareparts cancelled my order. Said they have been on back order for over a year.

[amarshall]

Try going direct to Autozone.com, that worked for me last year.  Checking their site now, they show a Duralast which I doubt exists - it wasn't really available when I bought.  The site also shows the rareparts version for $78.99 each.  I think that was about what I paid, maybe they have a couple more left gathering dust.

EDIT:  I read again and see that you tried to order from Autozone already.  Hopefully you were trying to get the Duralast version.  Good luck!

[RallyEagle]

AutoZone is out of stock and cannot be ordered according to counter person.  Guess $240 has to spent to Kennedy American for theirs. Ugh.

[RallyEagle]

So it seems almost everyone is out of these.  Some of the suppliers are asking their manufacturers to start making them again.  So it is wait and see AND do not throw away your old lower ball joints!  I got mine back from the scrap pile so I can at least put the front end back together.  This really bites.  Who know the Achilles heal of an Eagle is a ball joint!

[MIPS]

To bump a two year old thread....

Since the last post, has there been any improvement in the availability of lowers? As others have noted the uppers are cheap and still readily available but NOBODY seems to be manufacturing the lowers. Even Dorman doesn't have anything and my local parts shop has been waiting over a year for anything equivalent. I'm still waiting on the backorder for something OTHER than RareParts. 

That being said, the RareParts replacement is now $170CAD after taxes and shipping for one, and I need two of them. Separating the bracket off a failed lower and trying to bolt in a brand new upper in its place (the bolt holes DO line up but you have to saw the bottom indent off the bracket) has likewise found the upper has a narrower taper and a longer thread, so that isn't useable in case people were curious.

[Taylor]

You wouldn’t happen to have found a part number with those?
Also, I believe espo springs n things can get upper and lower ball joints.