I replaced my left lower ball joint Jan 2010 / 20,000 miles ago. Right side was replaced April 2010 / 12,000 ago.

After car wouldn't hold the alignments being done at a lifetime alignment shop. I took it down to a suspension shop and they're saying the left side is bad and right side is showing a good amount of wear already. They seem legit... I found play when wiggling the wheels.

Question is why have the ball joints failed so fast. How do I make them last longer? We had a rough winter and lots of potholes but the first set went 100k miles before affecting the steering and the seconds set only lasted a year. Is this typical on our cars?

The shop that did them last time put in OEM. I was thinking moogs might last longer longer? Any other brands to check out?

Are there any issues with the 2g moogs? I was reading this on the 3G https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/fyi-aftermarket-moog-balljoint-k500117-beware-805131/

Also, the shop says everything else in the suspension looks good when I asked them about the tie rods and end links. Is it worth replacing anything else while the ball joints are being done...car just turned 125k miles

 

I've had bad luck with OEMs lower ball joints, once I installed Moogs I never had problem. OEMs wear out quick

 

That's unusually short for ball joints.

Maybe the boot was damaged during installation? :shrugs:

 

yeah-faulty install can lead to early wearout
OE parts are not the greatest in most cases (except acura water pumps rock!)

 

Be careful replacing them too many times as you can wallow out the inner part of the knuckle where it presses in.