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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/15/2004
06:20:29
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 Subject: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
Hello all,
I'm about to replace my upper and lower ball joints in about a week. It appears that the uppers are attached to the control arm in a straight-forward way, but how exactly are the lowers attached to the lower control arm? I've heard that you can either use an air chissel or a hand-held grinder to remove the heads off the rivets holding the factory ball joints to the control arms, but I haven't been able to get a good look at the lower control arm/ball joint assembly to see how it all goes together. I should be getting my lower ball joints in either today or tomorrow and they might answer my question for me, but if anyone here has any insight as to how to change out the lowers, I would value your input immensely.
Thanks,
Kevin
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/15/2004
06:30:42
|  RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
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Message:
Ooops...I forgot. I have a 2001 QC 4x4 if that makes any difference. I think the lower ball joint assemblies are pressed in. So is there some special press I need in order to get the old ones out and the new ones in?
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WardenJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/15/2004
13:53:51
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
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Message:
The lowers are pressed in. You can rent a balljoint press (looks like a big C-Clamp) from autozone (I think) and do it yourself, or you can remove the control arm and take to to a machine shop. I have mine at a shop right now because I heard if you dont line up the joint properly you could screw things up. On my 99, there is a zerk fitting on the control arm for greasing the joint. If this is the case with your truck, make sure there is a small hole in the side of the balljoint, and line that up with the grease fitting when the joint is installed, otherwise you wont get any grease in there. Good luck!
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/16/2004
06:19:06
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
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Message:
Thanks for the info. I'm still waiting for the lowers to arrive...should be here tomorrow at the latest. I'm hoping that they come with at least a vague set of instructions. I'm not looking forward to doing this, but after I'm done I will finally have a little peace of mind when I drive my Dak.
I'll have to see where the zerk is located on mine. I don't think that they are greaseable right now, so I'd be surprised to see a grease fitting on the lower control arm. In fact, the whole reason these joints seem to be failing is because you can't grease them. I'll know more when I get the lowers in. The uppers sure are nice though...
Thanks again!!!
Kevin
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WardenJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/16/2004
07:11:31
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
The zerk on mine is located on the side of the lower control arm. The balljoint itself appears to not be greasable because there is no zerk fitting on top, but if you look at the new one it should have a small hole in the side that lines up with the fitting. The OEM uppers have no way to be greased. This is the case on my 99, I dont know if it changed by 01. The job really isnt that bad.
For instructions, check out http://www.magnumdakota.com/balljoints/balljoints.html for the lowers and http://www.magnumdakota.com/upper/index.htm for the uppers. I also have a very detailed set of instructions from a member of this site, Timberwolf. I sent him an e-mail to ask for his permission to send you the instructions. Go ahead and give me your e-mail address, and I'll send the instructions along if I get the ok from the author. If you want you can e-mail him yourself at timberwolf530@peoplepc.com. If you don't want to post your e-mail here, send it to me at WardenJ@kmacorp.com. I'm in the thick of this project right now, so if I can be of any help, don't hesitate to e-mail. Good luck!
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/16/2004
08:06:23
|  RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
Great!!! I'd love a set of instructions for this ball joint replacement undertaking. Please send them to me if you get the OK. I can be reached at either...
kedgington@zianet.com
or
kedgington@mail.wsc.nasa.gov
Thanks for the help WardenJ
--Kevin
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dakotart01
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/16/2004
12:14:54
|  RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
You may think that i am crazy but all you have to do to remove pressed in ball joints is to get a small sledge hammer and hit it a couple times with medium hits. don't hit it too hard but it does take a little umf. To get the new ball joints in all you have to do is put the ball joints in the freezer. This shrinks it enough to slide it in yourself, or maybe with a little tap of the sledge. This technique is a little unorthodoxed but i was told this by a ase certified mechanic, and i also did it myself. I couldn't get any presses or removers in time to drive to my aunts so i needed to replace them quick.
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WipLash
R/T
3/16/2004
13:08:31
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
The freezer trick works great. I've been doing it for 18 years.
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GAbe
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/16/2004
17:47:48
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
If you don't have a press to press out the balljoints use a correctly sized impact socket and gently bang out the old ball joint wiht a mini sledge while another person holds the control arm up. Took me 30 dollars and 10 minutes to learn that trick.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/17/2004
05:32:56
| RE: Lower ball joint replacement questions.
IP: Logged
Message:
The freezer trick...I like it!!! It sounds crazy enough to work. I'm really liking the sound of this. I think a technique is often better than a tool, so I'll have the ball joint press as a backup, but I've got to try the freezer technique.
You guys are great! Thanks for all the input!
Kevin
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