So to be clear, the steering knuckle uses ball joints and not bushings? Because the dealership told me the knuckle bushings need replacing. I'm a bit confused now. :/

 

Ok, so my front end has been clunking for a few months now. The ebay ball joints that I got are apparently shot again. For $60 bucks, they lasted a pretty decent amount but I think I'll be trying out the Duralast ones this time around.

 

I was able to replace my eBay ones with the Duralast and man, it was a pain in the butt! The castle nut was seized on the ball joint and they were spinning together on both sides. I had to push up from the bottom of the knuckle with a jack and put my full weight on the LCA to get the cone to seat right while using an impact to wrestle with the castle nut. It took a while but the nut came out. The rest of the process was painless as it was just pressing out the old and pressing in the new ball joint with a ball joint press borrowed from AutoZone.

I would highly suggest using some anti-seize on the ball joint threads, especially if you live up north where there's snow and salt.

Here are some comparison shots:

 

^ Do you have the part number for the duralast part? Is it specific for the 350z or is it a universal part that just happens to fit our application? Has anybody else used these before?

 

It is 350Z- and should be G35c-specific (not sure about sedan); Part number is DBJL148.

Others have already installed these with success both in this thread and on G35Driver thread.

 

Bump.

3hree5ive0zero how did the Duralast held up so far? I'm thinking of replacing mine with those but do you think there is a need to put a energy suspension boot coverr on it?

 

Did anyone ever order these? I don't want to take my car apart to measure and am hoping someone can tell me which is needed.

Based on what I could piece together between this thread and one linked on Driver, looks like this:

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...p?prod=9.13130

I wagered <10.00 it is and will report my findings when it comes.

 

I checked it out last week and it looked to be holding up fine, but it's way too early to tell.

The boot that comes on this, IIRC, was of noticeably higher quality than the eBay one. Plus, I didn't use any other cover for the eBay one and it held up fine so I'd expect the same for this.

 

I need to get this done before I get my alignment. Is it bettter to replace both at the same time. The other one seems fine.

 

BJL148
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search

 

Dunno how you guys been pressing out/in the balljoint. My spindle keeps turning to the right and limiting me from pressing the balljoint.

 

It shouldn't be an issue. Steering wheel is locked?

 

I had to put mine in a vice and get a socket and big hammer and knock it out.. Couldn't get it in a

 

It helps if you have a helping hand hold things out of the way for you, but you should be able to do everything on the car with just the ball joint press.

 

Boots from Diverse came.They fit eBay ball joints well.





I'll post how they go on the oem units.

This just came.



I plan to do it today or tomorrow.

 

^ any update with this? both of mine are torn and if this is a more durable solution for DD and track usage, i will be doing it as well

 

I couldn't get the cone that sits on top of the boot off. Damn thing is on there. I had grease gun issues before I got that far that took three trips back to Autozone (where I bought it in May) and the car is still sitting on jackstands in my garage.

 

^ I used a tie rod separator tool rented from AutoZone to get the cone off.

 

Any updates for replacement ball-joints for the 05+ ?

 

^ Pretty sure there aren't any year-specific ones. It's either fits all or it doesn't.