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fredDQC
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2004
16:12:58
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 Subject: RE: Ball Joints
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Hey guys! was wondering if any of you know the MOOG part number for the lower ball joints. I replaced the upper ones months ago but now the lower ones are starting their music..
By the way mine is a OO Quad Cab 4x4. The last time it took me a lot of persistance with the autoparts clerks to persuade them to look on the books because they just check the computer system and tell you they don't carry them. But we all know here they do!! they are just so damm lazy they don't want to look!!
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not liking my
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2004
12:10:05
|  RE: Ball Joints
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I have 98 Dodge Dakota sport. Lost right front wheel bearings while driving 65 Mph on Interstate absolutely no fun to try and stop safley. over 1600$ repait bill less than 6 month later at mechanic at garage told all wheel bearings bad again. Transmission also bad. not a real good toy Truck Chrysler should stop with that Ram tough commercial. Anyone know of any recourse or any one that can help.
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westerndakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/16/2004
00:03:40
|  RE: Ball Joints
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I have a 2002 Dakota Sport Plus with 20 000 miles on it and have had the ball joints problem since the day I bought it new. It took me a while to convince the dealer (they could not find anything wrong with it at the beginning) and on my last oil change service I put the truck in reverse and when I applied the brakes the pop was so loud, four guys at the service department jumped up. They changed the ball joints and the tie rod on the left front wheel and last week also the right front hub. This is an improvement, but I still sense something loose on the right front, so they will most probably change the ball joints on the right side, too. Also I pointed out to the service tech that all the bushings in the front suspension were cracking and they will replace them under warranty since this is also a recurring problem. I have a 91 Dakota also, and its bushings are in a better shape! Why isn’t there a recall on this issue?
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Bob Lemke
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2004
15:39:50
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Are there any Class Action Tort lawyers out there?
Back in the seventies, there was a huge class action law suit aginst GM for putting Chevy engines in Oldsmobiles and Buicks. I remember my Dad getting a check for a few hundred after GM decided to settle out of court. That wasn't even a safety issue!!
Chrysler's refusal to address and properly deal with this ball joint debacle is most deserving of a massive class action law suit. I'd be first to sign up if we can get one filed. DC needs to be held accountable for their obvious neglect and thorough disrespect for safety and well being of the general public. I don't think we should wait for people to start dying to take action. It's pretty clear where Chrysler stands on customer service after calling their 800 number.
I'll be willing to settle for full refund of the original purchase price of my piece-of-crap 2000 Dakota Quad Cab so I can go buy a reliable vehicle elsewhere. I'll even give them my truck back -- it's worth nothing to me.
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RAM Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2004
20:31:22
| RE: Ball Joints
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YEP! Dodge has and continues to install inadaquate BJs on their trucks. The steering boxes have always been suspect on Dodge trucks. I have a 99 dak CC 4X4 V8. Bought it with 35,000mi on it last year. When I had it inspected before puchase by an alignment shop I trust he said the ball joints were going bad. I had noticed that the front rotors were slightly warped(nothing noticeable by my wife). I laughed "35,000mi for ball-joints huh". I haven't seen many cars need them before 100,000mi. He told me at this time that the steering system requires regular maintenance (fluid changed). Citing these as the only real drawbacks with the 99 Dakota. Which i confirmed with some further research.
1999 is really one of the better years, since it is the last year before the 4.7 and the changes that came with it. It is always a good idea to buy a vehicle in its most refined model year. This is not to say that other years are not reliable but I have seen that years before and after 99 generally have more recalls. This really applies to all vehicles IMHO.
Bsck to the ball joints. The shop says that aftermarket ball-joints seem to have a much longer life-span that what Dodge puts in. I had the brakes and ball joints fixed shortly after buying the truck since I use it for hauling a 19ft boat over the pass (4 times last year). As well as frequent trips to the lake here in town.
When I brought the truck in for the brakes there was a 2003 RAM 1500 QC in for an alignment. He tests the ball-joints while I'm standing there shooting the bs with him. Sure enough there is already about the same amount of movement in them as there was in my BJs.
We had a good chuckle about it. What can you say, they are just not up to the task. I think the truck had about 5000mi on it LOL.
BJs can certainly be done by the average home mechanic. So it doesn't have to cost $650+.
My only real compaint about the truck is that the motor could have more power and get better MPG. A 1999 318 with 230HP and 300FT-LBS and 13city 16hwy is not outstanding. Ford was getting 225HP and 300FT-LBS 10 year prior with the 5.0 302. With better MPG to boot. I'm not sure where all that fuel is going since clean air is supposed to be comming out the tail pipe LOL. Don't get me wrong this IS the truck I wanted but what is that all about.
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Joshua LaPoin
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2004
13:49:52
|  RE: Ball Joints
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I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota. I backed out of my driveway and heard a "pop"ing noise. I drove a few houses up the street and, POP, the top ball joint popped off. My wheel came off. Imagine if I had been driving 70mph on the 401 and this happened!! I could have been killed. My wife doesn't even want to drive in it now, even if I do get it fixed. I'm a bit leary myself. Should be able to do something about this! THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, not to mention a SAFETY HAZARD!!!
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WipLash
R/T
2/25/2004
23:07:15
| RE: Ball Joints
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RAM,
I don't know what your talking about with the HP. I owned a 92,93, and 94 Dakota. When Dodge came out with the Magnum engine in 1992 it set the standard for everyone else to follow. Ford and Chevy were still using throttle body fuel injection at the time. Even the Mustang GT in 1993 had LESS HP than the Dodge Dakota. I beat several Mustang GT's in my Dakota back in 1993. In fact, I never got beat by a Mustang in 93 or 94. It took Chevy and Ford 3 years to catch up with Dodge. It wasn't until at least 96 that you could even get MPI on a Chevy truck. I think it was 97 to be exact. That was the first year for Chevy's 255hp 5.7L. When Chevy made that move nearly every truck with that engine had transmission failure before 20K. I admit Dodge has been slow to make improvements on their engines and their trucks in the last few years. Just remember that it was DODGE that started this whole truck revolution back in the mid 90's with the 1994 Ram and the 1992 gen2 dakotas with the Magnum engines.
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kerrie
Dodge Dakota
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2/28/2004
07:36:47
| RE: Ball Joints
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I recently brought my 2002 Dakota Quad Cab for a sticker, which it failed for a bad upper ball joint. I took it to the dealer, all four are bad at oly 21000 miles.they want to replace them with the same OBVIOUSLY problematic part. I was told they dont have the parts in stock and that I could come pick it up and drive it(with 2 kids)until they have the parts in 3 days. I was also told by the service manager that it's VERY RARE for a ball joint to go. What do you call all four? He insisted he knew nothing about the problems they have been having, so I educated him. And don't bother calling Daimler Chrysler-they don't care!!!All they were willing to do was replace the defective parts with the same product. I was told I could use another product, but that would void my warranty. I also filed a complaint with the njtsa. Come on recall!!!
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RAM Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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3/01/2004
12:18:19
| RE: Ball Joints
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WipLash: Ford 5.0 had MPI in 85 I believe. I don't remember what every year HP rating was, but I do remember that in 88 mustang was rated at 225HP and 300ft lbs. If I remember correctly the truck version of the 5.0 hovered around 215HP and 300ft lbs rating for most of the time between 88 and the last year it was used in a truck. What I was really pointing out was that the 5.0 is a 302ci engine where as the 5.2 for Dodge is a 318ci. Typically with engines 1ft lb of torque per cubic inch can be expected from an given engine. So where did our 18ft lbs go?
As far as horsepower goes 230 is not bad but not an amazing improvement over the 220hp in the GenII dakota or the aforementioned Ford 5.0's 225 or 215HP.
MPG I guess I don't have to say much about that. It's really pitiful in todays trucks. I had a 80s carburated F350 that got between 16-20MPG and it had a 400ci engine. It weighed about the same as my Dakota (F350 was 2WD regular cab Dakota is fully loaded 4X4 cc) I weighed them both. I would just like to know why all the technological advancements have not improved power significantly but have reduced MPG significantly.
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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
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3/02/2004
07:47:35
| RE: Ball Joints
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PLEASE CALL AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. THE MORE THE BETTER. ALSO, TONIGHT ON CBS AT 6:30PM DAN RATHER IS DOING AN ARTILCE ON BALL JOINTS WHICH I LEARNED WHEN I CALLED TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANOTHER ARTICLE, THIS TIME ON THE DAKOTA. I ALSO CALLED MY STATE SENATORS AND AM IN CONTACT WITH SENATOR JOHN KERRY'S OFFICE AND AM AWAITING A CALL BACK THIS WEEK AFTER HIS INTERN DOES SOME INVESTIGATING. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND COMPLAIN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! IVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF INVESTIGATING AND HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF BALL JOINT PROBLEMS IN BRAND NEW VEHICLES ON UP. NONE OF THEM ARE SAFE. DRIVING THESE VEHICLES IS A CRAP SHOOT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. HOPE NONE OF US BECOME THE STATISTIC THAT GETS THE BALL ROLLING. LOG ON TO WWW.HNTSA.DOT.GOV AND FILE A COMPLAINT.
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Breadman
GenIII
3/03/2004
15:00:50
| RE: Ball Joints
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Home Log In Your Account Catalogs Shopping Cart Order Status Contact Us About Us Policies
Front suspension , Upper control arm
2004 Dodge Dakota
Alternator
Automatic transmission
Body hardware
Brakes
Clutch
Cooling system
Electrical
Emission system
Engine
Exhaust system
Front drive axle
Front suspension
Lower control arm
Lower control arm
Stabilizer bar
Stabilizer bar
Suspension components
Upper control arm
Upper control arm
Fuel system
Hvac
Maintenance & lubrication
Manual transmission
Rear suspension
Starter
Steering
Steering column
Transfer case
Universals & rear axle
Keyword or Part Number
Description Year List Price Your Price
UPPER CONTROL ARM, Dakota, Right - 2WD, 1997-04 2004 $197.00 $157.60
UPPER CONTROL ARM, Dakota, Left - 2WD, 1997-04 2004 $237.00 $189.60
UPPER CONTROL ARM, Dakota, Right - 4WD, 1997-04 2004 $174.00 $139.20
UPPER CONTROL ARM, Dakota, Left - 4WD, 1997-04 2004 $174.00 $139.20
Found this on allpar.com Same parts for '97 thru '04 model years.
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Tawanna
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2004
22:30:44
| RE: Ball Joints
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I'm upset because I went to get a front alingment and the mechanic said I cound't because of the balljoints.I want to know if you pay to get them fix are they going to reimburse your money back?If not and I get in a accident with my four children I'm going to file a lawsuit.
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wondering
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2004
01:27:04
| RE: Ball Joints
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If it's under warranty, they should pay for the repair, but they'll replace them with the same crappy balljoints. How do you fit four children and a driver in a Dakota?
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Gregg
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2004
11:01:10
| RE: Ball Joints
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I own a 2001 Dakota Quadcab 4x2 with 23,000 miles. I have taken it to the dealership 4-5 times for an "unknown" front-end noise noticed when turning. Of course, when the service technicians drive it for 2 hours they never seem to "replicate" the noise and tell me nothing is wrong. After much of my persistence, they changed out both brake calipers and upper/lower control arms on the left and only the upper control arm on the right. This popping/crunching noise when turning is still occurring. I recently went back to the dealership and again was told they could not "replicate" the noise. Even with all the recent airing of the balljoint problems on these vehicles, they still deny there is a problem.
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Dakup
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2004
11:57:52
| RE: Ball Joints
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Gregg,
I drive a Dakota 2002 2wd and I have the same problem when turning left and braking. Like pulling into a parking spot. I just had it in to the dealer for the third time and or course they cannot recreate it. Even after the service writer drives it. When I offered to take him for a ride he said he couldn't. F' em, I'm tired of hearing the same line "we could not recreate it". Well why is it the minute I drive away it happens again. The stealer hasn't replaced anything yet so I am going to try another dealership.
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Mark Hudson
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2004
15:26:28
| RE: Ball Joints
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Where can one go to file a compliant in regards to the ball joint problem with a Dodge Dakota.
I just returned from having the front end aligned and was told it would not hold due to a loose ball joint.
There seems to be a major problem nationally with this issue and I am interested in doing whatever I can in hopes of Dodge doing the right thing and performing a recall.
Who can I contact to help the cause.
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Gregg
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2004
15:47:49
| RE: Ball Joints
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Dakup,
The sad part is that Dodge is replacing the parts with the same "new" crappy pieces. The owner of the dealership told me that was "normal" noise in the front end. Told him NONE of my other Dodge vehicles(95 Dakota CC or 98 G Caravan) did this. My warranty is now expired and unsure what I should do; either wait on Dodge or pay out of pocket for better quality after-market parts(MOOG)
At least I'm not nuts thinking something was wrong
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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
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3/05/2004
09:07:06
| RE: Ball Joints
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FOR ANY OF YOU WHO LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND EVEN IF YOU DONT, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE A LETTER ABOUT HOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HOW ITS BEEN GOING ON LONG ENOUGH AND IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED AND ASK FOR A RECALL NOW. MAKE SURE YOU SIGN IT AND PUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND ADRESS ON IT AND FAX IT TO SENATOR JOHN KERRY'S OFFICE AT FAX NUMBER 617-248-3870 ATTN MARK STERNMAN, I GOT THE BALL ROLLING, NOW I COULD USE SOME BACKUP, THE MORE THE BETTER. LETS MAKE IT AN ISSUE THEY WONT BRUSH UNDER THE TABLE , THE MORE PEOPLE THAT FAX THE LETTERS, THE BETTER. THEY ALREADY HAVE ALL THE ARTICLES AND STATS BECAUSE I SENT THEM TO THEM. THEY PROBLABLY THINK IM A NUT CASE, BUT THE MORE PEOPLE THEY HEAR FROM, THE MORE LIKELY AND SWIFTLY ACTION WILL TAKE PLACE. I ALSO CALLED "CALL FOR ACTION" AT 617-787-7070 AND SPOKE TO OPERATOR 56 ON THURSDAY AND SHE IS ALSO INVESTIGATING AND WILL GET BACK TO ME, AGAIN, THE MORE CALLS THE BETTER. THEY TAKE CALLS ON THURS STARTING AT 11AM.
ALSO, IF ANY OF YOU LIVE NEAR HANOVER MASS MY HUSBAND WILL BE OUT IN FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEKEND (MARCH 6TH)(HANOVER DODGE-880 WASHINGTON ST HANOVER MASS) WITH BIG SIGNS SHOWING THE NHTSA STATS(749 COMPLAINTS VS 14 VS 12) AND AGAIN, YOU CAN COMPLAIN OR YOU CAN ACT. LETS HIT DAIMLER CHRYLSER IN THE POCKETBOOK BY DROPPING THEIR SALES, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL GIVE A HOOT. MAYBE NOT, BUT AT LEAST WE GAVE OUR ALL. ALSO, JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE, THEY WONT DO AN ALIGNMENT AFTERTHE BALL JOINT REPAIRS UNLESS YOU PAY FOR IT. MY BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND IT PULLS TO RIGHT NOW EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT, IT S STILL NOT RIGHT.
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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/05/2004
09:29:51
|  RE: Ball Joints
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HEY, GOOD NEWS!!!!!NO NOT A RECALL YET, BUT IM WORKING ON IT. JUST GOT OFF PHONE WITH MARK FROM SENATOR KERRY'S OFFICE AND HE ADVISED ME THAT SENATOR KERRY WILL BE DRAFTING A LETTER TO THE HNTSA REGARDING OUR ISSUE AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO RESPOND. HE SAID HE WILL KEEP ME INFORMED AND SO AS SOON AS I HEAR, I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. LETS KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!
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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/10/2004
14:12:24
| RE: Ball Joints
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FYI- I FOUND THIS ON THE NHTSA SITE- ITS THE REPLY FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO THE NHTSA DATED 9/5/2003 LENGTHY, BUT WORTH IT
"DCC HAS CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF ALL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED REGARDING THE SUBJUCT BALL JOINTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH INDICATE NO ALLEGATION OF ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THIS REIEW HAS FOUND THAT THE CLEAR MAJORITY OF ALL COMPLAINTS RECIEVED(99.7%)ARE RELATED TO THE COST OF REPLACEMENT PARTS FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF A WORN SUBJECT BALL JOINT, OR OTHER ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO BALL JOINT SEPARATION, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS CLEAR FROM REVIEWING THESE COMPLAINTS THAT THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE IS PRSENTED WITH SUBSTANTIAL AND SUFFICIENT WARNING LONG PRIOR RO ANY RISK IN SEVERAL WAYS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INCREASING AND NOTICABLE LOOSENESS IN THE VEHICLE STEERING, THE FRONT SUSPENSION EMITTING UNUSUAL AND LOUD CLUNKING OR POPPING NOISES DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, UNUSUAL AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, AND AN INABILITY TO ALIGN THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SUBJECT BALL JOINT INDICATED KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEED FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT FOR VERY LONG PERIODS OF TIME, OFTEN APPROACHING OR EXCEEDING ONE YEAR. DCC BELIEVES FROM THE PREPONDERANCE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REVIEWED, THAT OPERATORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVE SUFFICIENT WARNING WHEN SERVICE OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS IS REQUIRED. ONLY THE VERY FOEW VEHICLES WHERE OPERATORS IGNORED THESE WARNINGS MAY RISK EVENTUAL SEPARTION OF A BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. FURTHER, IF THE OWNERS MANUAL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE SERVICE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN FOLLOWED, IT IS VIRTUALLY ASSURED THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD BE AVOIDED.
IN ADDITION, DCC HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES, SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY. PRIOR TO AUGUST 2003, THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WAS RIVETED TO THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND SERVICE APPLICATIONS. AS A RESULT, REPLACEMENT OF UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES BEFORE AUGUST 2003 ALSO REQUIRED UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WHICH IN MANY CASES RESULTED IN INCREASED SERVICE COST. IN AUGUST 2003, CDD RELEASED FOR SERVICE AN UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BE BOLTED ONTO THE EXISTING UPPER CONTROL ARM, ELIMINTATING CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE RECENT AVAILABILITY OF THEIS PART IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS MOST COMPLAINTS REGARDING SERVICE COST OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS.
NICE TO KNOW THEY CARE!!!!!!
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