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01:26:31 - 12/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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stumpy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/18/2005
16:31:28
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 Subject: Quick Question about Ball Joints
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Message:
Do I need to know anything before I let the dealer tackle my truck and have them replace my ball joints form that recall. I have had the notice sent by DC and just recently I've been hearing noises when I drive.
Thanks
Stumpy
Silver 01 R/T CC
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2005
19:03:59
| RE: Quick Question about Ball Joints
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Message:
What do you need to know? I guess you could call the stealership and verify that everything is in order before you head down there.
I took my 03 QC 2wd into the dealer 3 months ago and they said the ball joints were "A" OK, not play at all. Couple of weeks ago I had them do a front end alignment while the truck was in for other warranty repairs,,, and they replaced the ball joints because they said they were bad?!? Free set of upper ball joints even though the 2wd's are not recalled, not too shabby.
Too bad they didn't notice the loose right wheel bearing when they were doing the alignment. They charged me for the 7/70 deductable because I had drove 1,000 miles the week after they did the alignment, pushing the truck over 36K. Oh well at least I didn't have to turn any wrenches to get the wheel bearing replaced.
Question I had was, how the heck could they do the alignment with a bad wheel bearing. They reference off the tires when doing an alignment. What do you expect, it's the dealer :-(
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matt
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2005
22:55:24
| RE: Quick Question about Ball Joints
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4X4's are all being recalled, 4X2's are extended to 90K I beleive, ane the ones they are going to install are not too much better. DEFINITELY call, as they are having severe issues keeping em in stock. if your choice (or neccesity) is to get em replaced, I'd say to use MOOG, as they come with a zerk fitting,( the greaseable type fitting). but, if you're limited on tools to do the job, have the dealer ship do it, and plan to replace again, in a few thousand (20-30K) miles, as the originals are press riveted in place and have to be cut or ground out. the replacements are bolted in place. its a damned shame that the dealer and corporate Daihmer (sp?) haven't accepted that they need to be greaseable to last. I'm a mechanic, and just did both sides on my 01 R/T, and both were shot. an easy test, is to lift the front end, with a floor jack on the frame, so the suspension hangs, and try to wiggle the tire top back and forth. if it moves, they're bad. You may also experience a poping noise at low speed turns. my right side had almost a 1/4 inch of play, and when I took it apart, the ball joint was close to completely falling apart. I had a noticable pop and suspension shift whenever I parked my truck.
depending on model, you may consider replacing the upper arm bushings too, I know on the v8 especially the R/T's, the exhaust manifold is really close, and tends to cook them, destroying their flex ability, usually after 40K, and the energy suspension bushings really tighten up the front end and last much longer.
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stumpy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/19/2005
08:26:24
| RE: Quick Question about Ball Joints
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Message:
Thanks alot, I look into the upper arm bushings too and see how they are doing.
Stumpy
Silver 01 R/T CC
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