cmckinney

Has anyone notcied that their ball joints on their 4x4 are worn out? I have an 02' with 40k on it and was going to have an alignment done on the front end but the tech told me that it wouldn't stay aligned b/c the balljoints are worn. I was surprised with this low mileage. My truck pulls right, signifigantly.

Anyone had similar issues?

-CM

AlpineRAM

Mine were worn out too- but a lot later. They developed some play at around roughly 90 k miles. (After driving trial ;D )

Do yourself the favour and swap them, also look at your trackbar etc. Since I've done this my truck handles much better.

AlpineRAM

finallydiesel

unfortunately this is simptomatic of Dodge trucks. I had a '99 1500 32000mi. had to replace ball joints , 88' 150 replaced them approximatly every 2 years ( although that was was lifted with 35 in. tires) and now my 96 2500 CTD they were replaced at 53000 mi.

Scubasteve

The ball joints on the later 2001 model and up are different than the earlier models. I talked to a guy who builds custom ball joints for street racers and special applications and he had mentioned that the uppers arent really a ball but like a king pin but the lowers were still like a ball joint, I dont know if hes right but they do tend to wear out prematurely and the lowers seem to be the ones that take the weight but dont have a grease fitting in them. I still havent replaced mine but what I did do was drill the lowers and use a grease needle every now and then to pump some fresh EP grease in them which seems to have made a big difference as I am at 150 000 miles. At the time the dealer wanted 600 canuck bucks for 4 ball joints plus installation and I WAS NOT prepared to pay that with 60 000 miles on the truck. If you can go aftermarket MOOG if possible which should come with grease fitting in both the upper and lowers AND BY ALL MEANS REPLACE THE TRACK BAR!! That is one of the most retarded things on these trucks I have ever seen. The engineer must have worked for play school at one time. If I ever meet the guy who designed that track bar in a dark alley.......... well you get the picture..



Good Luck


Jason

cmckinney

Well with just 40K on my truck I think I'll wait till it gets noticeably worse. The truck pulls right I can live with that.

1yr old truck and this happens this sucks...it's the little thing sometimes ya know?

How much for ball joints and install or would it be advised to do this yourself?

-CM

FastSS

ive blown 2 ball joints this year alone

jd knite

I just had the uppers and lowers done on mine at 31,500. They were equally shot...thankfully still under warranty tho. I would have yours replaced immediately. JMO...Mine was starting to make horrendous noises when making a sharper turn, not to mention the handling problems at higher speeds, and the needles excess of road wear/alignment on my new tires...Bottom line I guess is peace of mind when I hear the turbo whine... ;D

Haulin_in_Dixie

Guess I should be satisfied with all original front end componants at 220,000 and still decent tire wear, no pull other than the crown of the road thing.

cmckinney

Picked up a load of hay 100 bales of coast 50-60lbs square bales on a car hauler. I noticed my truck tracked true on the highway with the back of the truck loaded down so I'm thinking my pull to the right is caused from a toe-in issue. I think this will help out the pull issue.

-CM

Haulin_in_Dixie

[quote author=cmckinney link=board=5;threadid=18844;start=0#msg182095 date=1063052867]
Picked up a load of hay 100 bales of coast 50-60lbs square bales on a car hauler. I noticed my truck tracked true on the highway with the back of the truck loaded down so I'm thinking my pull to the right is caused from a toe-in issue. I think this will help out the pull issue.

-CM
[/quote]

You know you are right, I get some right pull without the trailer but none loaded even if the trailer is empty. I have noticed that before. Mine does always pull to the crown of the road, pulls right in the slow lane and left in the "truck delivery" lane. Lets you know when the engineers screwed up on the grading, there is a 15 mile stretch going south into Montgomery that is banked to the left all the way across.

joking

Sounds like everyone is having the same problems that I do. I have replaced both tie rods and track bar. And I'm still getting a load knock when turning hard one way then the other.. Any ideas?

Johnny RAM

Bought 99' 2500 with 26,000 miles. New tires at purchase were worn out at 40,000 miles. Got a killer deal on BFG AT's
and Eagle alloys from my friend tire store manger. Decided we better check alignment next day, same story lower ball joints shot. Thats why I went thru a set of rubber in one summer, 14,000 miles! Replaced with greaseable spicers. But my buddy's assistant manger said they just did a Ford F-250 with only 17,000 miles that were worse than mine!

phox_mulder

[quote author=joking link=board=5;threadid=18844;start=0#msg186628 date=1063934720]
Sounds like everyone is having the same problems that I do. I have replaced both tie rods and track bar. And I'm still getting a load knock when turning hard one way then the other.. Any ideas?
[/quote]

Loud knock sounds like it could be the control arms, or trailing arms as they are sometimes called.

Check the play in the bushings on them.

I assume the knock comes while turning and moving forward,
not just turning the wheel back and forth standing still?
Is it on level ground, or while going over a bump, such as a driveway?

phox

cmckinney

Well I adjusted my toe-in and my truck drives straight now unless I'm on a crowned road. Just took a 15mm open end wrench loosened the tie-rod adjustment and twisted it so the tie-rod end's come closer together about a 1/4 in and it drives great.

Also to note since I took of the D25 coils my wheel was off center so once I did this the wheel is now straight again.

Ball joints bad? Man I don't know if the guy was honest w/ me or if he was just trying to get some work. Who knows?

-CM

LE

I'm lifted with 35" tires and have no problems as of now. With 32k on the truck, I am wondering if I should have the ball joints replaced before i go out of warranty. My dealer will do whatever I ask as long as it is not too outrageous. What do you guys think? LE