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DAK NUT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/29/2002
14:20:40
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 Subject: Ball Joints
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Message:
I have a 2001 cc Dakota 2wd 4.7L W/43,000 miles.
After having new tires and wheels put on the alingment people said I needed new ball joints.
My question is I can't find just ball joints
without buying the whole control arm.
This is what the parts stores here in Wichita KS. said and that is what the dealer said also.
Any help would be appreciated.
DAK NUT
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2002
20:20:58
| RE: Ball Joints
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Moog doesn't list a replacement ball joint for anything newer than a '99 or '00...don't remember which, right off hand. But, that doesn't mean anything. The guys at the parts store just look in their books, if it's not there, they say it's not available. Can't really blame them, they can't know everything about every vehicle. The dealer only sells ball joints the way that Dodge offers them...as part of the control arm assembly. If you buy them, you get the same crappy balljoints that you had.
Go back to the parts store and ask for MOOG #K7241 lower balljoint, #K7242 upper balljoint. You'll have to cut off or drill out the rivets that hold your stock balljoints in if you do it yourself. You can also order them online at rockauto.com...type in a '99 Dakota, and they should come up. I live in KC...used to live in Topeka...good luck down there in Wichita...
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Exocet
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/01/2002
20:39:24
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Another source for ball joints is www.autowhiz.com. This is an auto parts search engine. For ball joints you may have to enter a 99 or 01 to get a parts listing. It seems that the prices were in the $40-$80 range each last time I looked. The upper ball joints are riveted in while the lowers are pressed in. Aftermarket replacements are available. You might be able to remove the old upper ball joints without removing the control arm. Hopefully, the replacements bolt on. However, to remove and install new lower ball joints, you will probably have to remove the control arm and have access to a hydraulic press. This could be labor intensive, but with quality parts, you shouldn't have to do it again for a long time. Good luck.
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Michael
DakotaEnthusiast
12/01/2002
22:00:48
| RE: Ball Joints
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There is a TSB on ball joint replacement and that replacing the entire assembly was not required. I'll look it up for you.
Z-Tube, R/T Rims, SSB Rear Disc Conversion, Alpine Head-Unit, Infinity Kappa Speakers, SilverStar Headlights, HO Cams & Intake installed.
Got H.O. ?
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Michael
DakotaEnthusiast
12/01/2002
22:04:39
| RE: Ball Joints
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Upper Control Arm - Bushing Service
NUMBER: 02-006-00
GROUP: Suspension
DATE: Oct. 27, 2000
SUBJECT:
Upper Control Arm Bushing Service
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin provides service procedures for the removal and installation of the upper control arm bushing.
MODELS:
1997 - 2000 (AN) Dakota
1998 - 2000 (DN) Durango
NOTE : THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO 4X2 VEHICLES.
DISCUSSION:
It is no longer necessary to replace the upper control arm assembly to service just the upper control arm bushings. Upper control arm bushing p/n 52037673 is now available through Mopar. The following Repair Procedure provides upper control arm bushing removal and installation information. Special Tool 8441 is required to remove and install upper control arm bushings and is now available through Miller Special Tools.
PARTS REQUIRED:
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING REMOVAL
1. Remove the control arm from the vehicle. Refer to the appropriate Service Manual or the service information provided in the MDS2, Group 02, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION - UPPER SUSPENSION ARM - REMOVAL.
2. Mount the control arm securely in a vise.
3. Remove the nut and washer from the upper control arm pivot bar shaft.
4. Install Special Tool 8441, Upper Control Arm Bushing Remover/Installer (Fig. 1).
5. Press out the old bushings.
UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING INSTALLATION
1. Slide the bushing over the pivot bar shaft and insert it into the control arm.
2. Install Special Tool 8441, Upper Control Arm Bushing Remover/Installer (Fig. 2).
3. Press the bushing into the control arm.
4. Install the washer and nut onto the upper control arm pivot bar shaft. Tighten the nut to 167 Nm (130 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION : ENSURE THAT THE SELF-LOCKING FEATURE OF THE NUT IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. REPLACE THE NUT ANYTIME THE SELF-LOCKING FEATURE DOES NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
5. Remove the control arm from the vise.
6. Install the control arm in the vehicle. Refer to the appropriate Service Manual or the service information provided in the MDS2, Group 02, - REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION - UPPER SUSPENSION ARM - INSTALLATION.
7. Align the front suspension. Refer to the appropriate Service Manual or the service information provided in the MDS2, Group 02, ALIGNMENT.
POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.
TIME ALLOWANCE:
FAILURE CODE:
Sorry, this is for the bushing not ball joints.
Michael
Z-Tube, R/T Rims, SSB Rear Disc Conversion, Alpine Head-Unit, Infinity Kappa Speakers, SilverStar Headlights, HO Cams & Intake installed.
Got H.O. ?
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DAK NUT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/02/2002
08:09:26
| RE: Ball Joints
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Thanks for all the help it is appreciated.
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Rrrockhound
GenIII
12/02/2002
18:08:45
| RE: Ball Joints
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Does that MOOG part number apply to 4x4 as well?
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/03/2002
14:10:06
| RE: Ball Joints
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I may be mistaken, but I think that the 4x4 balljoints are different than the 4x2's...I've read a few posts to that effect, anyway.
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CrzyBri82
GenIII
12/03/2002
14:22:37
| RE: Ball Joints
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just for the record, i looked into the balljoints from moog. they do not make ball joints for the 2000 on up dakotas. they say they should have the new design on those soon but not sure when.
Brian
Adrenalin is my drug of choice.
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Bruce P
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
21:59:28
| RE: Ball Joints
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Are you talking about the LOWER ball joints?
I have a 2000 4X4 CC and I have MOOG (greasable) upper ball joints.
Do not forget the fact that in the year 2000, 4X4 dakoatas received a TOTALLY NEW front end. This added the IFS and rack-n-pinion steering to the 4X4 in that year. This made the 4X4 dakoata handle more like a (very) heavy car. 8-)
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cashed out
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/01/2003
13:56:50
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I have a 1998 Dakota 4x4 with 125K. I was told by a dealer that both upper and lower contrl arms L & R. Lower Ball Joints, L & R. Need replacement Costing approx $1500.
Where can I find the Moog part numbers and the bolt on ball joints?
thanks
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Jim Barron
Dodge Dakota
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1/17/2003
13:10:45
| RE: Ball Joints
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I have a 1998 Dakota Sport 4x4 with only 42K miles. Both lower ball joints need replaced. The original Good Year tires lasted as long as the ball joints! The local NAPA auto parts store carries the lower joints for about $40.00 each and will press them in for an additional $12.00 each. I have changed ball joints in older 4x2 trucks before, but I don't know what is involved with the Dakota torsion bar setup and the lower control arm. Any advise? Is there a repair manual online?
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Timberwolf
GenIII
1/17/2003
23:45:04
| RE: Ball Joints
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Jim, I just ordered my uppers and lowers and will be changing them myself next weekend. Go to the search and type ball joints and there are about a thousand threads you can read(Not much on lowers, mostly on uppers and the lowers look hardest). I ordered Moogs, but TRW is supposed to have decent ones too. What ever you do make sure you get the greasable ones. If NAPA will install them for $12 apiece and they ARE greasable, then that sounds like a good deal.
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Jim Barron
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2003
12:56:38
| RE: Ball Joints
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Timberwolf, Good luck! If you think of it, take some pictures. I will be doing the same thing maybe next weekend, and will have my camera in hand. The NAPA guy says that they are DANA units and that they have zerks. I called the local Dodge dealer and got a little run around. First he wanted to sell the entire upper control arm. I told him that I would never buy the factory garbage with no zerk. Then he said that aftermarket parts probably aren't available, another attempt to sell the factory junk. I gave him the Moog, TRW, and DANA solution. Finally he suggested that I call Advance Auto and rent a ball joint press. Advance doesn't rent tools, but AutoZone does. The press is free with a $99.00 deposit, which you get back when you return the tool. AutoZone carries Perfect Circle brand ball joints at $60.00 upper and $36.00 lower. AutoZone guy had never heard of the problem. Cool, no lower control arm removal! Thanks for all of the information. Now if I could figure out why my 5.2L is using a quart of oil every 2K miles.....
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Doug Mulley
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/22/2003
10:47:54
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
Jim-
My 5.2 was consuming oil too and knockind during hard acceleration. I took it to a mechanic who told me that there was a TSB on the intake manifold gasket. Indications are oil consumption and hard knocking during acceleration.
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Doug Mulley
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/22/2003
10:49:15
| RE: Ball Joints
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Adder to my last message. The Dodge dealer had no idea about the TSB and misdiagnosed it as need ing a tune-up.
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Riverboat
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2003
21:20:48
| RE: Ball Joints
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Is there a replacement for a 2001 durango Upper ball joint from Moogs that they do not know about. I call their warehouse in CA and was told that they did not list any ball joint replacement for the 2001 Durango. i was wondering if anyone out there used another part that fitted the upper ball joint
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/05/2003
23:11:44
| RE: Ball Joints
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Does the Durango have the same premature ball joint wear problem as the Dakota?
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teamfast
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2003
14:08:06
| RE: Ball Joints
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Hey guys, ive had just as bad luck with my joints too. And due to the fact i lowered it 2/3 nothing is covered. Good tip on the moog part #s ill look into that.As far as control arm bushings, how about buying some from energy suspension, they probably cost less and will install as easily.
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teamfast
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/07/2003
21:20:57
| RE: Ball Joints
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Okay i have found the parts a supplier and gotten pricing, can you verify that these will work pistolero or are you talk ing about what you have heard or assume?
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ImranKhan
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2003
20:08:59
| RE: Ball Joints
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I used to be a Ball Joint Product Design and Devlopment Engineer at what was the DaimlerChrysler New Castle Indiana Components Plant (left in 3/2001). I can tell you that the Dakota and the Durango both do have a premature wear problem. The Upper and Lower Ball Joints are the same on both vehicles. The only difference is that the 4x2 has a Rivet-on Lower and the 4x4 has a Press-in lower. I actually designed a replacement due to the issue, but they wouldn't approve the funding and I left the company, but the design was finished. The upper ball joint does not have a replacement because Chrysler doesn't want to sell an bolt on kit for it. The upper has to have the rivets drilled out to get it off the upper control arm. This is the same for the Lower Rivet on (4x2). And the only one where you can really replace just the ball joint is the lower 4x4 press-in because it goes in a cast lower control arm so you can just press out the old and press in the new (lot's of force required). email me at ink006@aol.com if you still need more info
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Charles
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/23/2003
16:53:36
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
So it is true that on 2001 and up Dakota's are still using the old bad design? The Dealer told me they fixed it in the 2001 and up... funny thing is, mine still make that loud noise when driving into parking lots through steep or low entrances.... guess I better chang them anyways....
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ImranKhan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/23/2003
20:18:30
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I posted that message yesterday, but I must make a couple of clarifications.
First, I did not leave the company because of the lack of funding for the design change. I was laid off for a different reason which had nothing to do with this issue. I don't think I stated that very well in the posting.
Second, the problem is really with the Upper Ball Joints and not the Lowers.
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dkr8611
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/24/2003
16:08:17
| RE: Ball Joints
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ImranKhan,
Do you know if 99 aftermarker upper Ball joints should theoretically work in a 01 2wd?
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ImranKhan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/25/2003
10:26:05
| RE: Ball Joints
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They should work. I don't believe the suspension design itself changed from 1999 to 2001. One way to be sure is to call a dealer and ask them what the replacement OEM part# is for the 1999 and 2001. If it's the same your aftermarket '99 replacement will work.
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2003
22:38:15
| RE: Ball Joints
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Why weren't grease fittings designed into the Dakota/Durango ball joints?
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Fisch
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/11/2003
13:28:14
| RE: Ball Joints
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Some advice... I just replaced the upper & lower joints on my 99 2wd.
First, there are 3 rivets on the upper & 4 on the lower, so you are looking at 14 total. Don't expect to simply grind off the caps and pop them out - I had to drill each one of them almost completely through. With the rivets being almost an inch long, I figure I drilled through about a foot of steel by the time I was done.
Second, the new ball joints only fixed part of the problem. The bushings are shot as well. So that means I have to repeat a lot of the same work (and more) to get the control arms out.
Ordinarily, Chrysler would just replace the entire control arm. The dealer says bushings are available for the uppers, but not the lowers (have to buy the control arm).
I have called for some rough estimates: NTB wants about $320 to change all bushings; for another $1400 I can have the dealer do it.
Moral: 1)Verify that the bushings are good before doing the ball joints. 2)Do it all at at the same time. 3)Be ready for a long weekend. 4)Have access to a well equiped shop. 5)Make sure after market lower bushings are available.
6. Never, NEVER buy another Dodge.
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