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Mopar8
Dodge Dakota
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7/17/2004
17:40:38
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 Subject: Balljoint replacement method
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OK at 30,000 miles I just checked my ball joints chasing a pop noise, Driver side upper and passenger side lower are both gone, Do you guys use the new fangled tools that Dodge shows in the service manual or just do it the old school way with a jack under the lower arm and a pickle fork to bust em loose? Gotta trip coming up and glad I found these were bad now instead of at 70 mph on the highway.
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2004
00:53:10
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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grinder or torch to take out the 3 rivets in each ball joint, you
could probably drill them out too
rockauto.com has moog replacements
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dakvader
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2004
06:36:37
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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30,000 Miles ????
Warrenty should cover this. ???
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firereddak
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2004
15:14:19
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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I just picked up my 03 dakfrom the dealer on thursday, they replaced both uppers.
I took the truck in for a couple of other things and asked them to check the ball joints because I know dodge has aproblem with them.
They replaced them with bolt on joints after telling me about six months ago when I did my 2000 that I whould have to replace the whole upper control arm.
My truck has about 34,500 miles. replaced under warranty
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Mopar8
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2004
17:01:26
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Yeah mines a 2001 and the 3 year portion of the warranty is over, I ordered the Ball Joints from Rock Auto and will just replace them all and leave the dealer out of the picture entirely. I,ve seen some of their work and it leaves a lot to be desired,
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KAP
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2004
18:07:55
|  RE: Balljoint replacement method
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I just replaced the uppers on my 99 a couple of days ago. I used a 4" grinder to cut the rivet heads off & an air hammer with a punch head to knock out what was left of the rivets. A small pickle fork then popped the tappered shaft from the knuckle. The replacements were bolt in. Good luck on the lowers, Mine are pressed in & from what I understand, it takes one heck of a press to get the old ones out..
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Mopar8
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
11:24:40
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Fortunately my lowers are riveted too! So did you just use a floor jack to hold the spring or a spring compresser? I figure the jack will be OK to lower it but am curious how everybody else does it for future reference, Thanks!
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KAP
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
12:45:56
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Actually on the 99 configuration, the shock will hold the lower arm (in theory)... Not trusting in theory, I used my floor jack under the lower A arm....
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Mopar8
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
16:05:20
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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I never even thought about the shock, that's a definite plus, I will use the jack too , Like you I don't trust theories that much either, Thanks
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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7/19/2004
16:15:00
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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I did my 2000 2WD Dak about a year ago, the lower control arm won't pop down from spring tension like other vehicles I have worked on. I used a jack on the lower control arm to support it while punching the rivets out, if you don't put a jack under the control arm while driving the rivets out it will bounce around, If you use an air chistle you might not have to worry about this. I also used the jack to get the ball joint studs back into the steering knuckle, could have forced it in by hand, but the jack was easier.
There was very little spring tension on the front suspension once the wheel was off the ground. I had a jack under the lower control arm while busting the studs loose with a pickle fork, but once I lowered the jack the the suspension just dangled there, not much spring tensoin at all.
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Mopar8
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
07:58:32
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Thats great information there DSW Thanks, I"m kind of new at working on late model stuff and appreciate all the Info you guys provide,
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mcarthey
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
09:08:49
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Do you have a size on that pickle fork? I'll be replacing mine soon and would like to make sure I have everything I'll need. I haven't crawled under the truck yet to check out how they're in there, though. I suppose I should check that out today. :) It's a '97 5.2L 4x4.
Thanks!
Mark
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bdholsin
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
09:24:04
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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You need a ball-joint press (looks like a big c-clamp) to push the old ball-joints out and the new ones in. I've done this twice on my 3.9L 4x4 '97 Dakota. You can pick up a ball-joint press on Ebay for somewhere between $20 and $40. Mine ran me around $25 plus shipping. Great tool to have in the garage. I've had a number of people borrow mine.
Your other option is to use a tool from a parts store like Autozone or Murrays or wherever. They usually charge a deposit fee and then return the deposit less tax when you return the tool.
This isn't a tough replacement procedure. But good luck anyway.
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mcarthey
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
09:47:43
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Can I just use a c-clamp?
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bdholsin
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
09:53:06
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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No, a c-clamp won't work. There are special attachments to allow the ball-joint to be pressed out. If you use a regular c-clamp you will just be compressing the ball-joint. The ball-joint press has attachments that will allow the part to be pressed out of the lower control arm by "grounding" the clamp to the lower control arm. Sorry for the weird response...I'm not articulate enough to describe it. This is something that you'll just have to trust me on as I've "been there and done it" for the replacement.
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mcarthey
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
23:02:40
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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Just checking eBay... Is the ball joint press a universal tool, or do I need one specifically for the Dakota?
Thanks,
Mark
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bdholsin
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2004
07:41:16
| RE: Balljoint replacement method
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It is a universal tool. Here is a perfect example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7911835417&category=33580&sspagename=WDVW
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