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Gavin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/14/2004
22:22:35
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 Subject: Ball Joints - Yet Again
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Message:
Even after reading all the posts about ball joints on this forum, I still didn't think I had a problem with my Dakota. That is until I started parking in a downtown multi-floor parking garage. Upon turning at the bottom of decending ramps, I heard the dreaded popping noise of the ball joints. I never heard this noise while on the street or on the ascending ramps...only the decending one.
So I made an appointment with a local mechanic (a 4x4 specialist to be exact). Of course the day before my appointment, the ball joints didn't make a sound making me question whether there was a problem at all or if it was just in my head. My mechanic drove the truck trying to hear (or feel for) the bad ball joint but didn't hear anything. Even he wondered why I would bring a perfectly good truck in for repair. It wasn't until he took off the wheels and actually examined the ball joints that he realized what poor shape they actually were in.
There was so much play in the upper ball joints (both left and right) that in a couple more months they would be ready to pop out of the socket. We cut open the rubber boot to see a bone dry ball that looked pitted and rusted. It was very sobering to see the condition of the ball joints. The lowers were also beginning to show signs of excessive wear.
My truck is a 2002 with 40k (mostly highway miles). I really thought I got lucky and got a truck with the "good" ball joints. I was wrong. If it weren't for the parking garage, I'd still be driving on those worn ball joints and just waiting for an accident to happen.
I had Moog ball joints installed. My mechanic indicated that the Moog replacements have zerk fittings for the periodic addition of grease. Shop around for the best price, do it yourself, or pay through the nose (like I did), but please get your ball joints inspected...and replaced.
I'm off to the NHTSA website. Safe driving.
Gavin
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Kevin E.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/15/2004
05:32:32
|  RE: Ball Joints - Yet Again
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Message:
I ended up having Big-O tires install mine. I bought the Moog replacements through rockauto.com and then called around to see who would do the labor. Big-O charged $90 per side. That is basically what the ball joints cost me, so doubling the price seemed like a fair deal to me. Plus, the time, tools, and wear and tear on your body that it takes to do it yourself is easily offset by a mere $180 if you ask me.
Oh yeah, seems I wasn't very clear about the price...$90 per side includes top and bottom ball joint replacement. They did a great job. Now I ride around with confidence that I'm much more safe than those people riding on stock ball joints.
--Kevin
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/15/2004
08:33:02
| RE: Ball Joints - Yet Again
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Has anyone had problems with Gen II ball joints? My 92 has two sealed and two 'greasable' joints. I don't subscribe to the idea of lubricated for life.
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JES
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/15/2004
10:29:31
| RE: Ball Joints - Yet Again
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Message:
I plan on driving my truck til the wheels fall off ... literally. Here in PA, if it passes inspection (which it always does at the dealership -- they hate 'fessing up to bum balljoints), then it's Dodge's problem when my wheel comes off and I kill a bus-ful of Nuns and Orphans. Sweet.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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