| From | Message |
99 fits 2000
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/06/2004
14:00:34
|
 Subject: RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
Everyone that has tried putting the 99 uppers on the 2000 has said they fit. Who knows. Do a search on this forum. There are several people who claim to have done it.
|
Gabe
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/06/2004
19:18:44
|  RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
Go here:
http://www.federalmogul.com/js/forms/gotomfrcat.html
put in your truck and it should list ball joints if they are servicable.
|
simulatedme
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/07/2004
11:19:33
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
I saw a post about checking ball joints by jacking and looking for play. This is how I usually go about checking for a bad tie rod end. Is there a difference I should look for to indicate which is the problem. Second, do-it-yourself replacement. Anything that is bolt off, bolt on, I can do, but I get nervous if a gasket is required. Anyone have an opinion on the needed level of mechanical ability for this job. It sounds like it is not much tougher than other front end work.
|
sitedrifter
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/07/2004
13:03:25
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
jack up the truck via the lower control arm to load the suspension. get the tire about 2 inches off the ground. Take a crow bar or wonder bar and wedge it under the tire and lift up on it. look for play in the lower joint. If you have play, YOU WILL SEE IT as there is no mistaking a worn joint. For the uppers, leave it jacked up and have someone pull in an out on the tire (hand on top and hand on bottom of tire) and watch for play.
make sure you follow proper jacking techniques are do not hurt yourself or others while doing this. if you feel uncomfortable, have a front end shop check it for $25 bucks or so.
Site
|
RAMDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/07/2004
14:23:52
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
Dakota ball joints can be checked with the wheel off the ground. Ideally, there would be just enough space between the bottom of the tire and the ground to fit a pry bar into.
If you force the tire upward by applying pressure to the prybar and the hub assembly moves and the suspension stays still then the ball-joints are on the way out (they should be replaced). Technically, there should be no hub assembly movement without suspension movement.
Naturally, this can be a little dangerous on jack stands since you have to look around the tire (stick your head under the vehicle) to watch ball-joints while you are forcing the tire upward. Too much pressure might move the vehicle off the stands. Not very likely but it could happen. It shouldn't take that kind of pressure on the tire to check for ball-joint movement. Also, the suspension should compress before the vehicle lifts.
If they are really worn (as appears to be the case with some of the D twins (Dakota and Durango) then you might be able to create movement by grabbing it on the top and bottom and pushing and pulling alternately. Don't even attempt to drive it when they are in this condition! If the suspension moves in this direction and the ball-joints don't then the control arm busings are out. You would see movement at the point where the control arms are mounted to the frame of the vehicle. Worn wheel bearings would allow tire movement in the same way but you would probably notice that problem just driving the vehicle.
When re-assembling the suspension, the ball-joints shaft should be sunk into the hub the same distance as the removed original part. It will help keep suspension geometry correct, and make alignment adjustments minimal. Since the ball-joint shaft is wedged into place due the the conical shape of the hole in the hub and shaft of the ball-joint you won't have much control over that. It's a good idea to count the threads that are sticking out past the nut on the removed part. If there is a significant difference after re-assembly then the shaft might not be seated properly in the hub assembly. Damage to the hub assembly and or the ball-joint shaft will occur.
This is by no means a comprehensive post on how to do the whole job. Just an FYI for those who don't know the basics.
There are some difficulties (every vehicle has their own due to the various suspension configurations) unique to the D-twins in performing this repair (Rivots). You can do a search here and get the lowdown on how to deal with those. Here's a good place to start
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/gen/10384.html
A good repair manual is always recomended. Hope this post is helpful.
|
RAMDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/07/2004
15:48:00
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
sitedrifter, is correct. The upper ball-joint can't be tested using the upward force on the tire. I would suggest that trying to wobble the tire may not display the true condition of the upper joint though.
Really we are trying to check for seperation movement not side to side. If there is noticeable side movement of the ball-joint then it dangerous and the vehicle should not be driven at all.
You just need to re-create the test done on the lower ball joint. Which is to try and seperate the joint (trying to pull the ball out of the joint). You will need to find a way to use the prybar and force the upper control-arm upward. Leave the vehicle jacked as sitedrifter stated. pry upward on the upper control arm. You might need to use a piece of wood to get the necessary leverage. Be careful not to damage anything.
I haven't performed this repair on the Dakota myself. I have performed it on several vehicles though. It's not really difficult even for beginners but should be researched throughly for safety and time saving tricks.
|
ray pillon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/11/2004
20:42:38
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
no grease front ends are junk especially on a truck. all aftermarket quality joints are greasable.cut cost and make the purchaser pay. the northamerican way.
|
kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/18/2004
21:35:51
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 94 dakota 4x4 318 extended cab and i am trying to find out if there is or was a recall on my ball joints. I was driving down the road one night and next thing I know,POP!, right front wheel falls off. luckily no one was hurt and i kept it in the road.Sure enough after I had it towed to the house and started looking it over, i saw the lower ball joint sheared in two. The end of the axle was still attatched through the bearing housing. Rotor, caliper, and even all six lug nuts were still attatched to the wheel. Please let me know if you believe that my truck would fall under this recall or if there is any info you have . thank you very much.
|
JasonB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/19/2004
00:55:47
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
kevin
Unfortunately, your truck will definately not fall under this recall.
|
Doug
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/20/2004
15:17:34
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 2000 Dakota CC with 85K miles. I live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado above 8500 feet, and have used my truck to cross the highest mountain pass in North America - Mesquito pass, at over 13K feet, as well as many other off road adventures. I live off of a dirt road and use 4x4 capability for snow driving quite often. I just got a recall notice in the mail today to replace the ball joints. I made an appointment for tomorrow. I went outside and crawled under there and looked closely but they appear to be fine. No popping or other issues. I wonder if the engineered ball joints were designed with a standard size tire, and not the big oversized tires that most people think they need. I have only used the standard size tires. I did not get the oversized tires with fender flare package. I'll have to inspect the ball joints when they are removed to see how worn they are. I'll let you know what condition they are in.
|
Kowalski
GenIII
12/20/2004
17:12:25
|  RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
I suspect there may have been some questionable quality control in the metalurgy along with the accepted design flaw. Not sure how else to explain why so many have had problems while others like me (running bigger tires, cranked up torsion bars, and extra stress from plow) have had no trouble. It doesn't seem to be related to how they were used. DC may claim otherwise to exempt 2wd but that doesn't explain why people like me haven't had a problem. Anyone else have an explanation ?
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
|
Bob D
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/07/2010
19:29:16
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
Bad squeak recently appeared on passenger side of
97 Dakota SLT 5.2L RWD, 115K. Replaced 4 shocks and bushings on both sides...squeak remains, maybe getting worse. Took to local mechanic - he listened to the squeak and without looking said
"ball joints, heard it a thousand times."
1. can I just replace balljoints or do I need to do entire upper control arm?
2. I've heard from 2 sources now to forget DIY as
these Dakota balljoints are riveted on. True?
|
hcw
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/08/2010
17:31:55
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
You can do it yourself, but you need a lot of equipment and an amount of skill. Yes they are riveted on, but you can grind the heads off and get the new ball joints pressed in. You will not have a press that works, and will have to find a shop that does. Also you will have to compress and possibly pull the springs, so more special tools. Get yourself a Chilton's or Motor's manual so you have a clue. Also you will get better results on this forum if you do not pull some ancient string from 2004 out of the closet, but start anew as people see the 90 replies and figure they do not want to read all of that trash
|
rodapo
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/07/2010
14:40:14
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
I bought my 2000 Dakota 4.7 in January of 2000. At that time, I was told that the factory had issued an extended warranty on the ball joints to 100,000 miles. Can anyone verify this?
|
daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/07/2010
16:57:08
| RE: BALL JOINTS
IP: Logged
Message:
This is true. I had mine on my '00 replaced at no charge already.
|
| | <<Oringinal Post <<Previous Page P 5 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
