piperca

I'm going to do upper and lower ball joints when I replace the front coil springs. I got a price from Carquest (Moog) and Napa (Spicer), they're both around $70 upper and $100 lower. Napa has another brand, Master Ride, which are only $38 upper and $42 lower ... has anyone used these? I called Napa tech services and they told me neither the Spicer or the Master Ride parts are greasable. He said something about a "clearance issue" ... ???? I didn't check on the Moog parts.

Does anyone have a recommendation as to manufacturer and where to buy them?

piperca

Come on ... someone's got to have some input here!

Dr. Evil; don't you at least have something sarcastic to say?

artman1308

piperca,
Just had mine done. The uppers are greasable the bottoms are not. The bottoms do not have enough room for a grease fitting. That is on a 4x4. Not sure if that is going to be the same for you. I did get mine from napa there brand as far as I know.
The prices they gave you are alot cheaper then what I paid. 100.00 each for mine.
Probably the differnce from two wheel to 4 wheel drive.

neveragain

Well I have had greaseable joints for years (sorry don't know the make of them)( got them at NAPA) now and have been good.Had to buy a horizontal grease nipple it was expensive found that a hydrolic jack under the axle is the best way to move find the spot for the end to go. the Also have been using synthetic grease for years don't mind the extra price for it and expell the factory grease in the grease nipples before they go together.

CTD NUT

I have bought NAPA/Spicer ball joints several times for Dodge D60 front ends and the uppers and lowers have always been greasable......since the lowers are greased from the bottom, what could possibly be in the way? The uppers are the ones that just BARELY have enough room for a 90* fitting without hitting the u-joint. Am I missing something? FWIW, the 2x4 independent front end is completely different and does not share the same ball joints as the 4x4.

piperca

What's the average life of a ball joint, 75-100K? Is there that great an advantage going with the greasable joint? Has nobody on here used the Master Ride Chassis joints?

Junk Yard Dog

I'm with CTD NUT here, just did all four on my 98 for under 100.00, ALL greaseable

Rick

piperca

Rick, where did you get the parts?

Junk Yard Dog

Piperca, I've inspected trucks with as little as 9000 miles, that had bad joints, yet my dually has been worked fairly hard half it's life, and just rolled 118,000 on the factory non-greaseable's.

It's just the piece of mind that I'm lubing one of the most stressed components on the front of my truck.

Rick

Junk Yard Dog

Local parts store, they were white box MOOG.

Had all the paper work from moog, just boxed for someone else. Think all 4 were 77.00 +/-.

Rick

piperca

That's an amazing price! I was quoted that for one upper joint!

95ram

Try looking on http://rockauto.com. If I remember right moog lowers are around 50.00

gandrews

So how long does it take to R&R the ball joints?
Any "special" tools required?
Any valuable lessions learned that would make the job easier the next time?

Thanks,

George

BlueRam01

Andrew,
Your parts guy must be talking about 4x4 joints. My 01 2X has 4 greasable ball joints on it. They were already on when I got it so I don't know the brand. Sorry. They have a bluish colored boot though not the std black rubber.
SteveB

CTD NUT

A ball joint press is mandatory.....I would not do the job without it.....and make sure there are spacers for the ball joint press large enough to accomodate the D60 ball joints. With the proper ball joint press, air tools and a big slide hammer to pop the wheel bearings out of the knuckles, the job should take 1 1/2 - 2 hours per side to RR uppers and lowers.....assuming the wheel bearings come out of the knuckles easily.