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brucemoose2
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/09/2002
21:46:25
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 Subject: front end rebuild
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Message:
Hey guys, I've been MIA for a while, but I'm back! Anyway, I thought I'd share my recent experience with Dodge... My truck is a 99 4x4 CC, and I'm approaching the end of the warrantee. My power steering pump has been making noise, and my front end has felt a little sloppy lately, so I decided to bring it in. The local dealer told me I had bad upper and lower ball joints (which I suspected) and also told me I needed:
2 New upper control arms
2 New lower control arms
1 New passenger side shock
New axel inner boot on the passenger side
New power steering pump
and some other misc. parts...
When they told me all that, my jaw dropped... is it just me or should my truck not need all of that after only 31,000 miles? I don't offroad all the time or anything. When I do offroad, it's always with caution... anyway, it was all covered under the warrantee, and I got a free alignment with the new ball joints... not a bad deal. Maybe they were just screwing Chyrsler for all the warrantee work? Has anyone had a similar experience? Truck drives great now, but I still hear some bumping when I hit lots of uneven pavement... I think a small amount is normal. At least I'm hoping!
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kevster
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2002
21:56:15
|  RE: front end rebuild
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Message:
The only way to replace the ball joints from Dodge is to install new control arms. this is the way they do it. Later on down the road if you ever need to replace ball joints again and warranty is long gone, any shop can remove the stock ones and install better brand ball joints, with no need to replace the upper or lwr arms. On a 4x4 the Cv joints boots can tear with age,these take a beating.
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kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/10/2002
00:08:08
| RE: front end rebuild
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Message:
Don't take your truck to the dealer to be repaired. They will replace your ball joints with OEM ones and they will go to sh!t in another 25,000 miles. Take your truck to an good auto shop and have them install Moog ball joints. They are more durable and you can grease them.
My ball joints went out at 89,000 miles and I cranked my torsin bars and go 4wheelin' often. The dealer said they were so bad that they didn't want me to drive off the lot. The only other problem I have had was my water pump went out which is why I was at the dealership in the first place.
-kevin
98cc 4x4 v6 & 33mts
http://moparthrash.tripod.com
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4wDakota
GenIII
4/12/2002
09:42:58
| RE: front end rebuild
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Message:
Brucemoose
I think they really wanted that warranty money. If there was any doubt in them about doing it for free they would have hassled you about your 33's
Corey
98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD
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brucemoose2
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/19/2002
10:06:46
| RE: front end rebuild
IP: Logged
Message:
kevin- the truck is still under warrantee. the whole reason for taking it to the dealer is not to pay for it! I think I can live with replacing the ball joints again later.
Anyway, the truck is doing great now. The steering response is much better. Now I've noticed my a/c is making some noise though... kind of a whining at around 1200-1500rpm in 1st gear. I've got a terrible feeling that the whole truck is going to blow up the day after the warrantee expires. (this summer)
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