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Don Mclellan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/12/2004
16:28:29
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 Subject: Ball Joints
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Message:
I have a 2002 Dakota QC and the dealer replaced the right front control arm assembly in January, at 22076 miles and when I asked if they were going to replace the left side they said "no' it was within spec. I put 115 miles on the truck and noticed a loud knock coming from the drivers side, and took it to the same dealer for an evaluation. They called later on and said the left front ball joint had failed. They are not replacing the control arm anymore, just the ball joint. No wonder you can't find ball joints anywhere, Chrysler is probably snapping them all up for fear of a recall.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/12/2004
19:55:10
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
So how are they replacing just the ball joint? The ball joint uses rivets to attach it to the control arm.
Are they grinding off the rivets like everyone who is replacing the stockers with Moogs and substituting bolts instead of rivets?
Is your new ball joint the same as the one that was removed or does it look different?
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Don McLellan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/18/2004
10:19:56
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
They ground off the rivet heads and secured the new ball joint with bolts and nuts. It looks to be the same as the old one. Wonder how long this one will last?
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Lurkin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/18/2004
22:23:16
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
Grease zerk on the replaced ball joint or not?
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
05:38:55
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
You know, I still can't find anyone who sells Moog ball joints for the 2000+ model Dakotas. I've been waiting for 2 months for rockauto.com to get them in and still nothing. Mine are starting to sound bad...in fact the whole front suspension is starting to creak and groan when I go over even the smallest of bumps.
Anyone know where to get the Moog ball joints for the 2000+ Dakotas? Do tell...
Kev
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Timberwolf
GenIII
2/19/2004
10:40:04
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
They are the same as the 97-99. Many people have used these and they work perfect. Do a search, you'll see about 100 people who have. Just tell them you need them for a '99 and you'll be fine.
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Steve G.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
11:59:04
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I got my ball joints for 2001 Quad Cab (part #K7392)
in 3 days after calling Moog customer service,(Federal-Mogal parent Co.), 1-800-323-5473, they gave me a list of local parts houses that could special order them. I think RockAuto ordered so many it's taking awhile to fill the order. Mine are now installed and some of my creaking went away.
2001 Quad cab 5.9
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Chas Powers
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
12:21:54
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
Steve,
Did you replace the upper and lower ball joints? Did you do the work yourself or take it somewhere? If you don't mind me asking, how much did the labor cost? I just ordered mine through a local shop and would like to get an idea of the labor cost. Thanks.
Chas
01 SLT QC, 4.7L. AWD, 68K miles
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Steve G.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
12:58:43
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I just did the uppers. I did the work myself, it took about 3 hrs for everything. The video put up by forexfour at http://claycdbj.com/balljoints.wmv gave me the confidence as I have medium mechanical skills.
I am lucky to have an air compressor, an angle grinder and air chisel that made the job pretty simple. I have no experience w/ball joint press so I'll be taking the truck and having the lowers done by someone as they are "pressed" in, and also get everything else looked at.
2001 Quad Cab, 5.9 97K miles
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WipLash
R/T
2/19/2004
13:47:33
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I haven't done a set of lowers on the Dakota yeat, but I have done several of the pressed in style ball joints on other vehicles. All you have to do is freeze the new ball joint over night in the freezer and it usually will fall right in the hole. If not, stick the control arm in the oven and heat it to about 300 degrees. Then the frozen ball joint will fall right in. Of course, if you heat the arm up that means you will have to replace the bushings. You could heat the area around the ball joint socket with a torch if you have an infared thermoeter. You don't want to exceed 400 degrees because you risk changing the crystaline structure of the steel.
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timberwolf
GenIII
2/19/2004
15:47:09
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I did my uppers and lowers. Autozone will let you borrow the press with a $100 deposit. I have a detailed set of instructions for doing both uppers and lowers yourself. If you are interested email me and I will attach the instructions to my response. The press is very simple to use.
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aerobat232
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
23:09:46
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I just had a small garage near me install both upper and lower ball joints with Moogs that I ordered a while ago. It took them 6 hours to do both and then an alignment. They didn't grind them out like others have, they drilled them out(1/8 inch, followed by 3/16 inch I believe, then punched out the remaining rivet). He said the uppers were an easy job but the lowers had 1 additional rivet and the rivets were bigger and more difficult. He showed me the rivets after it was done and they were pretty big. His exact words we're, "I wouldn't rec'mmend dem lowers to da backyard mechanic". Overall cost of labor was $400 (including alignment).
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RTbill
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2004
12:53:39
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
After asking questions on this site about what owners are doing to replace upper ball joints that are unavailable for my 01' Dakota...I took the advice of several reply's and ordered a pair of ball joints for a 99' Dak thru partsamerica.com. The part you want is McQuay Norris FA2132 @ 49.99 ea. Total with 3 day shipping $121.84. They are just like the 2000 and later ball joints and have a zerk fitting.
A local garage installed them and did an alignment. The shop charged $180 for the labor and $75 for the alignment. I would highly recommend the alignment! I got the computer alignment print-out and it's amazing how far out of spec (camber, caster, toe, combined) this truck was before the alignment. And the print-out confirms everything is within spec now. The lower ball joints were good.
RTbill, 2001 QC 2WD 4.7L
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WipLash
R/T
2/20/2004
13:32:14
| RE: Ball Joints
IP: Logged
Message:
You have to take those print outs with a grain of salt. They are only accurate if the machine gets calibrated regularly. Most shops buy the machine and never have them recalibrated. I always ask for the documentation showing when the machine was last calibrated and how far out of adjustment it was when they calibrated it. If they can't produce those documents I go somewhere else.
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