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dakotadrew
Dodge Dakota
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11/21/2003
07:26:16
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 Subject: Bad Ball Joints???
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I have heard all about these ball joints and i believe i have some....SHOCKER! I have a 99 dak sport with 85k on it. Still a great truck though. How much to have them replaced? Mechanic or do-it-yourself job? I do hear the noise when i am in a turn in say a parking lot. Do they progressively get worse or do they fall of or what? How do i know how bad off they are and if its hazardous to drive?
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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11/21/2003
08:05:37
|  RE: Bad Ball Joints???
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I've heard horror stories about the different things that can happen to a car when the ball joints are bad, none of them sound nice or cheap. I've had mine replaced by the dealership. They didn't admit to them going bad early or whatever everyone else says, but they were back ordered at the factory and they immediately named all the symptons for me. In others words, it was obvious they have dealt with the problem on numerous occasions. So I gave them enough rope, and they hung themselves during coversation. So in the end, I not only got my ball joints replaced, but the entire upper control arms driver/passenger and some power steering mechanisms and a few other parts.
Don't hold off, buy some nice ones and if your up to it, put them on yourself. Keep in mind the factory ones on your truck are probably riveted on so some drilling and grunt work will be required. Expect to pay a fair amount of money in labor if you send it out.
The problems and hazards that they can cause when bad exceed the repair costs.
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h250r4trx
Dodge Dakota
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11/21/2003
09:45:15
| RE: Bad Ball Joints???
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so what brand is the best for our trucks? I drive a 97 4x2 cc v6 with 140k on it.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/21/2003
13:20:57
| RE: Bad Ball Joints???
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Message:
I've heard that Moog makes some nice ones, and I've heard that they don't. I guess the best choice if you plan on keeping the truck for a while is a ball joint that you can grease when changing your oil. If you're planning on trading in or selling your truck sometime in the next couple of years, perhaps buying factory ball joints from the dealership or Mopar distributer would be a better idea. You could ask the guys at a Suspension shop or performance off road shop for their opinion since they probably replace them on a regular basis for their customers. Remember to keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and if you want to own that Dak for 5 or more years you should be willing to dump some serious coin.
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martin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/21/2003
18:09:59
| RE: Bad Ball Joints???
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Message:
the way to check ur ball join is:
- place a jack under a lower control arm
-jack the the control arm up so the tire lifts off the groung
-take a prybar or any bar , stick it under tyhe tire and move the tire up and down with the bar and see if it the ball joints are bad.
hope this helps a bit
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donotever
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
10:22:15
| RE: Bad Ball Joints???
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Message:
repeat, "do not ever go to the dealer" for "new ball joints" all he ever does is replace the sh1tballs you got with newer, wearout quick sh1tballs just like you already got. someone with a decent amout of experience in things mechanical "could" if he is smart enough to follow "good" directions and "rent a coil spring compressor" and a few other goodies that make the job safer and easier, that coil spring lets loose and you could have to replace half your face and all your jaw if you do the job wrong. Plus since you are taking the front end apart you need to put it on an alignment rack, which most of you do not have nor is anyone going to "rent it to you".
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