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Josh
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/28/2002
21:35:30
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 Subject: Ball Joint Adventures
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Message:
Hey all...
My truck is currently sitting 80 miles away in my gf's dad's garage up on jackstands... :(
Does anyone know what kind of tool I could use to unscrew the upper balljoints? This is a '94 4x2. My gf's dad's neighbor had some really big sockets, but the shape of the ball joint body prevents using a socket... and a pipe wrench won't fit. Any ideas?
That wasn't the main problem, however. I spent 4 hours attempting to get the bolt off of the driver's side strut (I'm replacing those too). Finally, I said the heck with it and removed the upper control arm, and took a die grinder to cut it right off.
Now, I'm looking for a decent spring compressor to safely remove the spring. A guy at work said that I could place a jack under the spring to remove pressure from the lower control arm, but this just jacks up the truck. :( I got a loaner spring compressor from AutoStoned, but the head was stripped and it looks as if it's made from tinfoil. The good neighbor had a spring compressor set, but this set consisted of three separate (much stronger looking) bolts, which won't fit on the suspension of the Dak.
Any ideas or proven methods of unscrewing the threaded upper balljoints and removing the spring?
Thanks all,
--J
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Big Blue QC
GenIII
7/29/2002
09:52:54
|  RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
Haven't personally seen the underpinnings of a 92 but I would assume you would need ball joint forks to whack them loose after any rivets are drilled out, assuming there are some. Good luck
2002 QC 4x4 Sport Plus, 4.7L, auto, Patriot Blue, Tire & Handling group,
Heavy Duty Service group, Leer cap w/out windows, Mopar Step bars and roof rack, Rhino liner in bed and on step bars, Pace Edwards Power Tailgate lock
3.55 rear, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, all possible fluids are AMSOIL
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bassboy170
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
12:46:02
|  RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
hey josh how did u know your ball joints were going i think mine might be shot but i dont know what they feel like if there no good thansk and good luck
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fredDQC
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
16:50:49
| RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
BassBoy,
Usually you can tell when you ball joints are wearing out because you can hear a !clunk! noise from the front end when you get out of the driveway or when you apply the brakes hard. of course it depends how bad they are. if the are barely going out, is going to take some serious bump or dip to hear it.The Mexican way to get them out,(I'm Mexican.je,je)is to use a short 3/4 socket or hex wrench to take the nut then put some WD40 and bang on the spindle side next to the bolt with a hammer. All this with the tire off and the jack on the frame not the lower arm. and it will come off. Now to detach the ball joint from the arm, just grind the rivets and hammer them out with a point.
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Houptee
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
18:56:08
| RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
On my 99 4x4 which has torsion bar suspension, no springs or struts, the upper ball joints were shot at 36,000.
Jack up truck from frame, not lower control arm.
Grab the tire at the top and bottom and try to feel play as you try and pull out at bottom of tire and push in at top.
I had like 1/4 inch of play in top ball joint on one side!
This could have killed me if it separated on hwy.
This should be a criminal charge against Dodge for this design defect.
Drill holes in rivets before you try to punch them out, it makes it easier, they came right out after I drilled them.
What are you talking about screwing out the on the ball joints?
They have one castellated nut/cotter pin and three rivets that you drill out.
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bassboy170
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/30/2002
00:39:19
| RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
thanks everybody for the replys i think its either my ball joints or something else it does a whole bunch of things like when im driving and hit little bumps i feel virbrations through the steering wheel and even the pedals and also it pulls a little when u hit the brakes sometimes does that sound like ball joints to u?
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jack
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/31/2002
21:13:23
| RE: Ball Joint Adventures
IP: Logged
Message:
The 94 4x2 uses an upper ball joint that is screwed into the upper control arm. It requires a special 8 sided socket that retails around $50.00. You can use a ball joint press to press it out and pressing the new one back in but run the risk of damaging the control arm and the new joint requiring replacing both the arm and the joint. As far as the spring goes, be very careful. You might want to consider bringing it to a shop that can do that in a press for safety sake.
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