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Demon
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
10:54:36
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 Subject: F'ing ball joints
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Went to get new tires and alignment on my 2000 Sport and told ball joints are bad. They want $1000 to replace. What's the word on getting Dodge to cover this since they are a known problem?
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
15:06:44
|  RE: F'ing ball joints
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Looking at it from a slightly different angle, the balljoints are NOT a problem. They were designed to last 36,000 miles for the majority of trucks. This is a PERFECT design -- minimum cost to serve the intended purpose. The warranty is for 36,000 miles, so if the balljoint lasts that long in MOST cases, it was properly designed. If it doesn't, that is what the warranty is for. The folks at Dodge explained to me that this is not a safety hazard either, since the balljoint is in compression all of the time, it will not separate while driving, or the driver will at least have ample warning that the joint is bad before it does separate.
I'm so glad I bought a truck that has such PERFECTLY designed parts. Let's hear it for Dodge!!!!
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
15:14:27
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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So what did dodge tell the people that had wheels seperate while driving?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
15:31:01
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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prob'ly blamed it on operator error!
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
15:41:13
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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You got it!!! I believe in all instances Dodge said that either the truck was being used more severely than it was designed for or that a crash caused the balljoint failure as opposed to the balljoint failure causing the crash. Who am I to argue? Sounds reasonable to me.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
17:01:26
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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I got Moog replacement ball joints at rockauto.com and had a
local shop I trust replace them. $600 total out of pocket. Or do
them yourself if you have a grinder or some other way to bust
the rivets.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
20:38:20
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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Sounds like maybe it might not be a bad idea to have a trusted mechanic do my 35,900 mile inspection rather than my dealer. Seems simple to me, if they're bad I'll go to the dealer and say either fix them now under warranty or assume I'll be back to file a lawsuit if you tell me they're fine and they fall off the truck within the next few thousand miles of normal driving. It's a shame. It seems like Dodge now most certainly has their powertrains in proper order. Now if only they could build an IFS out of something more durable than pencils and brake rotors out of something thicker than cardboard they'd have a world class pickup truck on their hands.
I know, I sound bitter, but this comes after the first rotor replacement in 7800 miles and the second set of front rotors making the steering wheel wobble ever so slightly in occasional braking from highway speeds starting at 18,500. It took me 60K on my old Ford before I even needed pads 100$ pads and I still had the factory original rotors with one resurfacing on there when I traded her at 107K.
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Demon
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2004
22:04:41
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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Yes 'another mark', after getting quotes from several shops, anywhere from $900-$1000, I decided I will do it myself. My brother has an acetyline torh to cut the rivets.
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Kevin E
Dodge Dakota
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9/24/2004
08:15:30
|  RE: F'ing ball joints
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The Big-O tire shop in my town replaced the ball joints on my QC 4x4 for $180 (both sides, uppers and lowers). That is their standard fee for ball joint replacement.
I bought the Moog replacement ball joints (with grease fittings) from rockauto.com. If you take your truck to the dealer, they will simply put the same junk back on your truck that it came with originally. Do yourself a favor and fork out the $400 to get some real ball joints put on it.
These trucks just aren't made like they used to be. The entire front suspension is almost completely unserviceable. They were made to wear out and break so you will have to spend more $$$ fixing it...as if $28,000 isn't enough to pay for a damn truck.
36,000 mile warranty...what a joke. Freakin Korean vehicles come with 100,000 mile warranties. Our trucks are pretty, but Chrysler seemed more interested in show than go when they were designed.
Oh well, live and learn.
--Kevin
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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9/24/2004
09:09:16
| RE: F'ing ball joints
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Message:
My Dad owns a 1990 GMC 1500 with 200,000 miles and the
original ball joints.
The center link and pitman arm have been replaced but still .....
ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS !!
I hope that someone from Dodge is reading all of these post and
realizing that this is damaging their reputation and that it WILL
hurt future sales.
Dr. D
p.s.
I also own a 98' Dodge Ram with a Cummins Diesel and 70,000
miles and guess what ....... Ball joints completly dry and making
awful noise
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