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Professor_SS
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/23/2003
15:31:01
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 Subject: RE: Dakota ball joints
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Message:
Mine goes in on dec 30 to have 1 ball joint replaced. I started hearing a slight clunking noise and knew immediately what it was. I wrench on my classic chevelles all the time so a ball joint is not a big deal, but the way these are installed contributes to the cost of replacement. My truck is a quad 4x4 dakota 01 with just over 22,200 miles on it. Mostly highway but a little dirt road. The dealer had to order a ball joint for mine and will only replace the one. I have been driving it for two weeks with this bad ball (dealer claims there is no safety issue here). It was that or take one of my muscle cars out of storage into the snow...
I don't get the impression that DC will ever recall these trucks until forced to. I don't get the impression that the failures are resulting into enough injuries or deaths to warrant a recall order by the fed... so basically... have your dealer check them often during warranty and once out of warranty take the truck to a suspension shop and have them done right.
BTW, this is my 2nd new dak. I purchased a 88 2x4 and put 200k on it before turning it over to my 16 year old this spring. When I transfered it to him it had to be inspected. The original ball joints went through inspection on that truck with no problem. I don't think my 01 is going to give me the service my 88 did, but we'll just have to wait and see.
In another note, I understand that the majority of domestic and full size import truck manufactures have gone over to sealed joints and I know that Ford has been using wheel bearings that are not only sealed but use plastic (yes plastic) races on there wheel bearings for a number of years. I just replaced one of these on a freinds f150. Pulled the hub and the balls spilled out on the ground. All of the manufactures have had to cheapen up parts to compete with imported products so this should not come as a surprize to anyone. It is simple economics in a world economy.
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Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/23/2003
16:53:34
|  RE: Dakota ball joints
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Message:
So...
Professor_SS writes:
"All of the manufactures have had to cheapen up parts to compete with imported products so this should not come as a surprize to anyone. It is simple economics in a world economy"
Does this mean George Bush and NAFTA are to blame? Or is it the fault of the United Auto Workers?
Will the dealer tell me that the next failure is "normal" and it's all Geo or Hyundai's fault?
Displacement is a wonderful thing when somoen is unhappy with you. Just blame someone else for your mistakes.
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lol
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/23/2003
21:39:28
| RE: Dakota ball joints
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Message:
Who are you trying to blame?
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