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jrr1
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/02/2004
13:50:08
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 Subject: Best Ball Joints?
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where do i get them at? I have a 99' 4x4.
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daknblk
GenIII
 
7/02/2004
14:34:17
|  RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
I think that most guys go with Moog ball joints, they have grease fittings (unlike to stock ones). I think that they're in the $45 range. You can check them out here:
Rockauto
You can also try Advanced Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Checker, Autozone, etc. for other brands.
Also, if you replace them yourself, you'll have to drill out the rivets, which can be some work. Go back a page on this site and try a search for "ball joint installation". You'll probably get quite a few results, just have to read through them, but I know that there are some good, detailed instructions posted on here. I have them bookmarked on my home computer.
John
03cc w/ 3.9 V6
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daknblk
GenIII
7/02/2004
14:39:16
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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End of first line should read "unlike THE stock ones".
I really should read the preview better!
John
03cc w/ 3.9 V6
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jrr1
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/03/2004
20:12:52
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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All my parts stores do not carry moog. So I am looking for a good mail order store. Thanks for the help John.
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daknblk
GenIII
7/05/2004
00:44:41
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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No problem!
John
03cc w/ 3.9 V6
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JKH
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/06/2004
18:38:37
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
so its just the stock ball joints that were badly designed and thats why they fail, not bec of the design of the suspension? and also, which ball joint is the one that usually fails, the upper or lower, just out of curiosity?
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jrr1
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/06/2004
22:13:37
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
I was told by the teck. from the Dodge shop, was that the ball joints are made with a little play in them. Where it is a line or not I can't say. All I know is that they have failed twice under warr. and now I have to fix it myself.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/07/2004
20:38:24
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
The upper BJ's fail more frequently than the lowers. Do as Daknblk says and go to www.rockauto.com to get the BJ's. Got mine 6 months ago and had Big-O tires install them for $90 per side. Considering the amount of labor it takes to do this job on a 4x4, $180 for the install was chump change.
Good Luck!!!
--Kevin
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Dean
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/09/2004
00:10:58
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
Any name brand is good and will have zerks, like Moog, Perfect Circle, TRW, etc. Take it from me, new ball joints do not have play, they are so stiff they are hard to move by hand, so I think that is a line. You never want play in the upper joints. A little play is OK in the lower joints, since its taken up by the weight of the vehicle. You will know right away when there is too much as you will hear strange clunks and knocks when you go over bumps or dips. If this is the case, deal with them immediately, or risk a serious accident.
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daknblk
GenIII
7/09/2004
12:14:56
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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I seem to remember that when I first got my Dak, I would occasionally feel a little thump in the steering wheel, usually while braking. I could never repeat it, just seemed to randomly happen from time to time. Anyhow, had passenger upper ball joint replaced ("Is this bad?" thread on members general board) and haven't felt the thump since. I'm thinking that the "little play" line was a load of bull.
John
03cc w/ 3.9 V6
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chuckohio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/09/2004
13:38:03
| RE: Best Ball Joints?
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Message:
If you go to the NHTSA website and read the documents regarding the investigation into the balljoint problem I believe you will find that DC changed from TRW to (ohhhhhh s*** I can't remeber the name right now ) in an attemp to fix the problem. Didn't work. Also not all upper balljoint are not load bearing. The uppers on Dakotas are in fact load bearing balljoints. But there should be no play in the ball joints and they should last much loanger then they do. Just had mine replaced at 35700 miles . that should make it till the recall hehe, I hope if not I will replace them myself next time. Anyway I just wrote a nasty letter to DC about the ball joint issue and How they don't think it's a safty issue
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