03-13 RAM 2500/3500 SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS

If you own a Ram HD and you’ve spent any time researching front end parts, it’s likely you’ve heard of Carli Ball Joints. Now that the research has begun and our customers are overloaded with information, what’s the benefit to these Carli Joints?

The main differentiators that matter – materials, process, and design. Our philosophy has always been to skip on the enumeration of materials and process and leave this to the engineers. As our lifetime ball joints have been in circulation for many years and more competition enters the market, the “what makes these so special” question surfaces regularly; we’re happy to shed some light!

The Design

The factory design consists of a lower ball joint and upper floating king-pin. The upper is only a pivot point and sees lateral load, relying on a coated sleeve as the wear surface. The lower is a true ball and socket with a composite liner that fails over time, requiring replacement.

Carli Joints improve this design with a floating king-pin upper where the pin “hat” contacts the housing, creating a second wear surface and eliminating sleeve failure. The upper cavity is enlarged for more grease reserve with a threaded cap and zerk fitting for serviceability. Channels in the pin promote grease migration, while a Viton seal protects against contamination.

The lower Carli Joint features a recessed, angled Zerk for easy access without disassembly, grease channels, and no liners. A bronze wear surface, disc spring, safety washer, and snap ring keep everything preloaded and tight. A rubber seal locks the housing to the pin for extra protection.

The Process

Carli Joints undergo an intensive process starting with copper masking, then carburizing/heat treating for 20–25 thousandths of case-hardness. Competing processes (like salt-bath nitride) only reached ~3 thousandths. After stripping, the joints receive a dry-lube gray coating for corrosion resistance and lubricity, paired with anti-seize and Redline CV2 grease.

Lifetime Guarantee

Backed by the industry’s only Advanced Replacement Lifetime Guarantee, Carli Ball Joints are replaced if play exceeds .040” vertical or .020” lateral. Simply provide a video and your purchase receipt, and replacements are shipped with a return label. This ensures peace of mind and long-term support.