Ball joint question

[Cajun]

I've been reading all that I can find in this forum regarding ball joints and our trucks and have a few questions;

Are all S10 balljoints junk?

Just 4x4s ?

Are just CCs?

Why are they junk?

What brand would you replace OEM balljoints with.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I've never had a vehicle that needed new ball joints.

[HenryJ]

Mine were replaced under warranty using a OEM redesigned ball joint.
The stock ones had a dimpled ball. Nice idea to retain lubrication. Didn't work though. They wore out too quick.
I would not say all are junk. 4x4's seem to be more prone , since people crank them up beyond the operating range and then add big tires to increase the loads as well as beat them up offroad.
Keep them lubed, free from contamination and wish for the best.

[Cajun]

What year models used the dimpled ball?

Mine is an 03.

How can I tell if my dealer replaced balljoints are the new style?

Thanks for your continued help.

[HenryJ]

I don't really know. The new ball joints I received came with a blue dust boot. It looks black now, so it may just have been a coating to preserve the rubber in storage.
Mine were replaced in 2003 and I had to wait for them to be available.

[killian96ss]

The upper ball joints on my 05 ZR2 are sealed.

MOOG problem solvers are the best replacements for the stock ball joints.

Steve

[HenryJ]

The upper ball joints on my 05 ZR2 are sealed.

When mine were replaced under warranty, I talked them into allowing me to use an air chisel and tear them apart to try to see what was happening and why these went bad so quickly. that is how I found the dimpled surface on the ball. Usually the ball will be smooth. At the very most it may have some grooves for the lubrication to move. Those are usually found in the housing though.
I wish I had taken a camera with me. They would not let me take one with me and they looked at me a little strange when I borrowed an air chisel and vise to tear one apart