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Tim Comer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
01:31:53
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 Subject: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
Hey all. I just wanted to let you know that my 2000 4WD Dak, with 32000 miles on it, went into the shop for a leaky rack. After it was in the shop, they told me that both upper and lower ball joints on both sides were shot. Well I figured that, due to the rattles I hear when I’m running around the farm. Now get this, they are going to replace the parts for free if I pay for the labor. $130 to replace the rack and $330 to replace all 4 ball joints. And about $50 for the alignment. I just wanted the gang to know that some dealers are footing the bill for parts. It’s not a recall, but I don’t think I could buy all these parts for the labor. This is at Maysville Chrysler (Kentucky) and I did not even buy the truck there. How is that for service?
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
02:59:31
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
You should not be paying one red cent to have anything replaced on your 2000 4WD Dak with 32,000 miles on it.
Do keep a copy af all repair bills so that when the government gets through with them you will get you money back.
Or at least we hope we get our money back.
Dr. D
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Tim Comer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
12:33:31
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
I hear you on that one. But I couldn’t wait much longer. I just kept seeing how much some people were getting charged to replace this stuff. I wanted to let people know some dealers are now footing the bill on parts. I mean, $130 for a rack? That one is a no brainer. I could have done the ball joints myself cheaper, but I still would have to have it aligned. And it is cold out. I’ll keep the receipt, but I doubt I’ll get my money back.
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ohmygod
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
17:48:41
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
the standard rate manual only allows 35 minutes per joint to replace them, that means you are paying 150 bucks per hour labor rate, WWWWAAAAAYYYYY too hi. some on here have had all 4 replaced for that price plus an alignment.
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CDAWG
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
19:12:01
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
35 minutes my ass, those things are rivited on not bolted. You gotta drill them out. Anyone know a better way let me know! Mine are all gone too on a 99 318 CC with 50,000 miles. Do you replace the rivets with bolts and nuts?
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Rob454
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
20:18:49
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
Just wait a damn minute. you have 32 000 miles on your truck. isnt there somethign called a FACTORY WARRANTY that covers all that? You shouldnt have to pay squat. its still under factory warranty for christ sakes. where do they get off charging you labor? while its under factory warranty you dont need to pay anything.
All that should be covered under warranty. the only thing not covered is stuff that wears like belts, tires brake pads. Everything else should be covered.
CDAWG you can use a air chisel and a punch. Ive taken mine off in no time at all. You shouldnt have to grind them a air chizel goes through them like butter. then you get a punch on the air chizel and pop the other half of the rivet out. I did my uppers from my GMC ( which were riveted on) in abotu 20 minutes and that included insatalling the new ones ( the 20 minutes refers to the removal of the upper ball joints on both sides not the tear down and reinstaalling the suspension. If you dont have access to a compressor then I can see grinding and drilling otherwise use a air chizel. Im pretty sure the mechanics are air chizeling those things off not grinding them off
Rob
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JES
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
21:10:18
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
35 minutes??? I think it took them 8 to do mine. They don't touch the rivets. They install the entire control arm assy -- ball joint, bushing, arm .. everything.
Eric
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rivermaniac
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/21/2004
22:12:29
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
3 years or 36000 miles , which comes first , 2000 dak ................we are in 2004
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nwf_snake
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/22/2004
08:06:20
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
For 2WDs, all four are riveted. For 4WD, the bottoms are press in. If you have air tools, you can use a chisel to ease removal. I used an electric grinder and drill. Took 5 drill bits and about 6 hours that way (yes, I worked slowly and methodically!). You bolt the new units in place with supplied hardware.
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Tim Comer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/22/2004
13:05:07
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
Like I said, the rack was a no brainer. You can’t get the part for the labor. The ball joints are a different story. What are they? About $50 each by the time you add tax? Plus another $50 dollars for an alignment. To save $80. For a long cold afternoon in my shop were you would have to keep the beer in a cooler so they don’t freeze. No thanks. I agree that the trucks should be recalled. No way these ball joints should be going out so soon. And the sad part is, they’ll go out again. Not to mention the trouble with the auto tranny that seems to crop up at around 50,000 miles. Me thinks me might be trading within the next year or so. I like this truck, but the cost of ownership coupled with the uncertain reliability will ensure that I don’t buy another Dak.
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Tim Comer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/22/2004
22:29:42
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
I just got the truck back a few hours ago. Jes is right. They replaced the upper and lower A-arms. Maysville Chrysler said this was the first truck that came in for a ball joint replacement with so few miles on it. They said that was why they were footing the bill on parts. The dealer said they generally get them in at about 80k. But agreed that there is no way the ball joints should be going out so soon. But Maysville is a small town so they might not be seeing that many trucks. Total bill was $499.58 for the labor. I could not have bought all the parts for that and had it aligned. It still sux. But it is good for another 30k miles. If I keep it.
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/22/2004
22:52:13
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
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Message:
They may be covering this under warranty but aren't you just going to wind up with the same crappy ball joints again? And you're paying money for these replacements? Hmm...
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Tim Comer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/23/2004
00:55:14
| RE: Leaky Rack and Ball Joints
IP: Logged
Message:
My truck was not under warranty. And I did not buy the truck at Maysville Chrysler. I thought it was nice that they stepped up to the plate and replaced them for labor only. I could not have replaced all that for the money I would have spent in parts. But like I said before, these parts should not have crapped out so quick.
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