| From | Message |
Josh
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/18/2004
16:31:53
|
 Subject: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 2003 Durango (17,000mi) which recently had its upper ball joint pop out of its socket and cause an accident. Dodge has denied my warranty claim.
I want to measure the size of the ball that popped out of the upper arm socket with my micrometer, but I don't know what size the ball is supposed to be.
Does anyone know?
Pictures:
http://www.turbocarz.com/shapegsx/accident/
Thanks,
Josh
|
Vince8739
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/19/2004
08:31:53
| RE: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
Your Durango is under warranty...how can they deny your claim???? I just had my 03 Dakota's upper ball joints replaced after 29K miles...covered by warranty. You've got a problem. Did you talk to the service manager? Call Dodge, a ball joint popping out and causing an accident is serious business.
|
Josh
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/19/2004
08:57:12
| RE: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
I did call Dodge. THEY are the ones that denied the claim! Chrysler Corporate in Michigan.
Ever see an upper ball-joint-ball just sitting out in the open? I have!
Check it out:
http://www.turbocarz.com/shapegsx/accident/DSC_0032.JPG
I can't see how it could do that unless the ball was worn to below spec. Check out where the upper control arm hit the rim and cracked it.
|
JES
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/19/2004
10:22:39
| RE: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
That's what happens when you hit a guardrail. The balljoints break. It's the weakest link.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
|
Josh
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/19/2004
10:48:58
| RE: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
My wife felt the Durango pulling to the right on the highway 10 minutes before this happened. Then 2 blocks from home, following a right hand turn, the vehicle steered itself to the right and then the vehicle hit a parked car.
http://turbocarz.com/shapegsx/accident/DSC_0020.JPG
The lower ball joint snapped, the point on the hub where the tie-rod attaches snapped off. But the ball from the upper ball joint is just sitting out in the open. I have to inspect the socket to see if it broke or if the ball itself was too small.
Anyway, I'm getting all the old suspension pieces, and I am going to put the ball joint back together so I can measure the play with my dial indicator. It shouldn't be over 0.060" if it is within spec. I think that is the best thing to do at this point. My insurance company is going to try to go after Chrysler.
Chrysler won't tell me why the warranty claim was denied. They said to get a lawyer if I wanted to find out. The letter they sent was just 2 small paragraphs, and it wasn't even signed.
|
2002DakSport
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/19/2004
20:22:51
| RE: Upper ball joint measurement?
IP: Logged
Message:
All summer long I'd hear a pop when I'd make a sharp turn or drive on a rough road I'd hear lots of rattles and such. So I took it in to the dealer and they replaced the steering shaft because of excessive play. After that I'd still hear the pop when I'd turn sharply to the left. About a week later I had an accident going around a curve and it's like I couldn't steer the truck. I took it to the dealer for suspension inspection to which they tell me everything was okay with the joints and tie rods. I still hear the pop so 2 months later which was last week I take it to another dealer and they tell me that my left upper/lower ball joints and tie rods need replaced and they are putting them on this week. 2002 Dakota 4x4 with 28K miles now.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
