Took my truck in today to get an alignment, turns out both upper and lower ball joints are pretty bad on both sides. Anyone replace them themselves? Ive done it on other vehicles, and it was fairly easy, but just wonering about how hard it is on this truck? Also any place yall recommend to get the cheapest ball joints? The Advanced Auto here wants $108 for the upper, and they cant get the lower joint. I havent checked anywehere else yet. Thanks in advance for any help.

M Sandt

 

108 is what the dealer charges for ball joints. As for replacing them it all depends where you live. They say up here in the nE it is tougher becasue of the salt and stuff. Dodge forgot to add anti-sieze to the hub. So they can be very difficult to get off. Also check those U-joints in the hub. They probably also will be bad. DAMM DODGE FRONT ENDS

 

NAPA has been the cheapest I found and they are greasable..others may be but haven't seen them. $99 upper $91 lower walk in cost. Having an account knocks $20 each off. Oreilly's can get upper and lowers as well. Uppers can be stock or all the way up to 1 1/2 degrees camber adjustment. They are a little more. Just swappwed both sides out 3 weeks ago and with new axle u-joints. took about 2 hours, but I have already done them once so knew what to do anyways and I have a ball joint press...highly recomend renting one if you don't own one.

 

I spent 588 clams on all four ball joints, all tie rods and linkages from Napa. I replaced the front u-joints a couple months ago, so when I did the ball joints everything came back apart fairly easily. Getting the hubs out the first time was a major PITA! I maxed out a 1" inpact gun on the puller, how I didn't destroy the hubs in the process was a miracle. I used a cylinder hone on the axle ends to clean them up and then plastered it with anti-sieze. Do yourself a favor and do the same, this will make future servicings go much, much more smoothly. As far as replacing the ball joints themselves, it went surprisingly smooth. All of them pressed out and in fairly easily with a cheap Harbor Freight ball joint press that only cost me 23 bucks. Doing it myself just over 600 including the beer, dealer wanted 3100 which is just nuts...

 

The NAPA Account you are talking about, is that the free account you can get online, or is that a credit card or business account? Thanks for all the help and information.

M Sandt

 

Business account. Got any friends that are mechanics or farmers that might have an account there?

 

No, nobody I know off the top of my head has one. Ill ask around though. Thanks again for the help.

M Sandt

 

Do a search on ball joints. I got a link on here for a place.(the name evades my memory) That sells all 4 for $240 to your door. As for replacing them. I had a buddy to them for me. He said that you need to be real careful putting the axle back in or you will damage the seal and have to have that replaced.$$$

 

Glowball,

I think it's quad4x4. I thought I had the page marked. I would like to get the kit they offer, the four joints and tools.

Pete

 

I checked it out and its 219 without tools and 289 with tools. Anyone use these before? How is the quality, I think im gonna go with these anyways because of the price and my wallets a little thin right now, but just wondering. Thanks again for everyones help.

M Sandt

 

Just tell the NAPA dealer you work for the power company (PG&E out here in California) They will give you the discount. Once I was asked for ID, but I just told them they were in my pants. (I had coveralls on)
Be real bold and tell them to just put it on the account, sign for it and you get back at the power company for thier overpriced rates. Ha!!

 

Yep. Quad4x4 is the place I ordered from. Very fast shipping. I thought the quality was as good if not better than oem.

 

Last month I ordered 2 Moog upper adjustable (K7448) and 2 lower (K7467) balljoints along with 2 Percission (464) front axle u-joints from Rockauto.com, all for under $405 including shipping. I ordered them on Monday and they were delivered on Thursday of that week! Highly recommend Rockauto.com for balljoints and u-joints!

 

In my 05 3500, the joints were out of DC spec so the dealer agreed to do them on warranty. (19k miles).

I talked with them about me showing up with Moog parts and they agreed to do it, but suggested I give the OEM parts a try first. So we did that.

Long story short is...the brand new ball joints from DC were same as those we took out. Out of spec. And I needed another alignment.

This spring...the Moogs for sure.

 

Moogs kick a$$ and they come with a lifetime war.