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RSQ-Ranger
Dodge Dakota
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9/19/2002
15:20:48
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 Subject: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Ok.. history.. bad front tires. worn inside both fronts.. get new tire.. goodyear 31X10.50X15 tell me after getting new tires on they can't do alignment cause you guessed it.. I have bad ball joints.. they give me the moog part numbers(found them online afterwards) and tell me parts:
passenger upper 261.00
driver lower 166.00
labor not bad 195.00
tax blah 25.00
grand total of 649.00
ok.. now I am pissed cause I had to save for 3 weeks to get new rubber... I have DC extended warranty.. (find out its drivetrain only plan tho) they don't cover it... but they can install new control arms.. both sides whatever.. but their labor is like 3X as much as Belle Tire
So now I am stuck trying ot find someone who can do it this weekend before my NEW rubber becomes scrap rubber FAST and have to spend another 250 for rubber again...
UGH
anyways... is this something I can do like a brake/rotor job, or do I need to worry and have DC/belle tire do it.. or buy moog parts for 100 for the 2 peices. or 200 for both upper and lower and have local mechanic put them on. (ones that CAN be greased to prevent wear.
I saw pics from someone who did it themselves and it looked easy enough, but I am no mechanic by any means.
ok I will take a breath now..
Thanks for any help/advice
Bob
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RSQ-Ranger
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/19/2002
15:22:22
|  RE: Ball Joints are expensive from DC
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Message:
oops I meant EXPENSIVE! not exensive in the topic..oops
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xplikt
GenIII
9/19/2002
16:05:42
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Anything parts from Dodge are expensive. They are at the point where upgrading to aftermarket is not a heavy additional cost.
I say do it yourself and get the Moogs. The ball joints are a pain in the ass to install. What it comes down to is how much your time is worth.
2002 2WD RC SLT 4.7L 5spd 3.92 LSD
MBRP Single in/out, straight piped 3rd cat, turndown tip
Hotchkis swaybars and springs
Bilstein custom tuned shocks
Roadmaster Active Suspension
Shaved emblems and antennae
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homer s.
Dodge Dakota
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9/19/2002
17:00:46
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Those ball joint prices seem pretty darn high I think I paid $180.00 Canadian for the two lowers (Moog heavy duty greasable)shop around at auto parts stores. They are expensive from dodge because they sell you the whole darn control arm. Mine is 99 2wd and you grind them off and bolt up the moog ones. Do it yourself then take it for an alignment just to be safe.
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homer s.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/19/2002
17:02:07
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Those ball joint prices seem pretty darn high I think I paid $180.00 Canadian for the two lowers (Moog heavy duty greasable)shop around at auto parts stores. They are expensive from dodge because they sell you the whole darn control arm. Mine is 99 2wd and you grind them off and bolt up the moog ones. Do it yourself then take it for an alignment just to be safe.
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/19/2002
18:39:51
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Buy them from www.rockauto.com. It'll run you about $200.00 shipped for upper and lower moog balljoints. The uppers aren't that bad to install IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS. Your going to need a good socket set, pickle fork, grinder, electric drill and bits, and jackstands. The rivets are kinda a pain even after grinding the heads off so you might have to drill them out of the A-arms...just be careful not ot drill into them. I didn't replace the lowers on mine but appearantly they're a bear because you have to get the old ones pressed out and the new one's pressed in. Someone has pictures of the process on their website but I can't remember the address. Check out the ball joints thread in the dealer recall board, the address and other helpful information can be found there. Hope this helps.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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schmitty
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/19/2002
22:00:55
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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just did my uppers on my 97RC V8 2WD last weekend. Not to bad of a job, borrowed a grinder from work and went at it! Just received the lowers today, also from Rockauto, their exactly like the uppers in the way they are installed...Grind off the old rivits and bolt the new ones on. Gonna do it Sat. total cost ..approx $200.
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/19/2002
23:11:49
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
I think the 2wd's and 4wd's are different because I couldn't find any rivets for the lowers when I was doing mine. I sent them back because I thought I had the wrong part number and I didn't need to replace them after all.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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SCHMITTY
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/20/2002
12:14:42
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Right! after i posted i kind of figured since the lowers have a different p/n they probably are pressed in as you said.
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/20/2002
14:59:15
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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any one whose interested in buying ball joints...I got a discount code for rockauto.com where you can save 5% on your order...when placing your order give them this discount code: 17601.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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dakotart1
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/20/2002
22:23:45
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
Contact Randy Pile at www.worldwideperformanceparts.com for a set of factory Lower Ball Joints. He has the cheapest price on them, way, way below $200 for the set. He has them in stock and can ship them straight out. If you need upper ones he can get them also for you and a low, low price.
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QCOwner
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/23/2002
16:42:53
| RE: Ball Joints are exensive from DC
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Message:
>Someone has pictures of the process on their website but I can't remember the address.
Here's the link:
http://www.magnumdakota.com/balljoints/balljoints.html
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