jeepsuck

so my drivers side wheel its tilted way inside and i thinks me ball joint is ready to go.

do i just need to replace the upper and lower joints? are there any special tools i will need?

is this a PITA?

spunbearing

One is threaded and one is a press fit. If I remember correctly the lower is a press fit and the upper is threaded. You'll need a ball joint socket for the threaded one. Mine were a pain because I have the 7226 springs. I had to take off the lower arm. If you jave to do that make sure that you torque the lower arm mounting bolt/bushing correctly. It goes to 225 ft. lbs and you want the weight of the vehicle on the wheels when you torque it so the bushing is in the correct position.

hmknight

spunbearing is correct, the top is threaded and the bottom is pressed. They're not too bad assuming you get the right parts the first time and it's not snowing out when you try to do them.

blueberry

Be careful so as not to strip the threads on the upper control arm.

As mentioned if you loosen any of the bolts thru the bushings, they must be tightened back up supporting the weight of the truck, i.e. truck supported by tires.

Also, if you loosen the bolts on the upper control arm bushings, MARK THEIR postion as they are eccentric cam bolts that set your caster and camber. If you don't mark their position, your drive to the alignment shop may be difficult.

I would also suggest getting an alignment check just to make sure nothing moved out of spec with the new parts.

Keep in mind that as the parts age they all develop small amounts of play. So, you will probably get a more uniform job by replacing matching parts on both sides of the truck. On my 1990 2wd, I replaced ALL the bushings & ball joints and it drove very nice after that and the alignment guy asked if I had put a new steering box because it was the tightest steering Dodge he'd ever driven! Of course the steering box was original.

Regards,
Brian

wreckere022002

what type of bushings and ball joints did you get

blueberry

I use MOOG parts.

My alignment shops & people here seem to like them better. I would stay away from the "problem solver" ball joints unless required for a good fit. They are oversized and harder to press.

Regards,
Brian

flashgordon

1992 250 4x4 club cab. PO installed Banks kit.\

89 D350 DRW. Bone stock.



? K i know we all asume that your talking about your 2wd truck cus you said ball joint but if its you 4wd then, that a hole diff ball game!!!!
didn't see it posted and were with in this discusion so i just thout it should be mentioned