[JeremyG]

Well my D hasn't gotten to the recall yet, Dodge won't help and I have the following VERY bad parts:

Upper Ball Joints
Lower Ball Joints
Inner Tie Rods
Front/Rear Shocks

It has 111k miles on it...

Anyway, it appears like replacing these (labor-wise) is reasonably simple. I can turn a wrench for basic stuff (brake jobs, strut replacement on other cars, tranny removals, etc.)....

So, is there anything I'd need to watch out for, or that may give me fits or slow me down?

From what I can see, it's just a bunch of bolts and castle bolts, nothing special, am I right?

Also, is there anyplace I can go to get torque specs for when I replace the parts??

 

[WicKed R/T]

Let me recommend Sam P.'s new upper and lower controll arm kit. What he does is takes stock upper and lower control arms, cleans them up real nice, re-powdercoats them and puts in new urethane bushings, moog greasable ball joints, and new tie rod ends. http://www.socaldakota.com/performance_mopar_dakotadurangoram_suspension_controlarms.html

 

[JeremyG]

weeow... I wish but parts are under $300... truck has 110k and is just a basic transpo car....

I did some research tho and see I have to have a pickle and also need to grind out the ball joints...

Oh wait maybe not... they were replaced before

 

[WicKed R/T]

Well, if all the ball joints were replaced then you shouldnt have that much of a problem replacing them again. Also, dont forget to get it aligned after you do all of that.

 

[JeremyG]

Just found my receipts, the lower ones were replaced before. From what I've read the upper ones are "relatively" easy to get the rivets out... evidentally the lower rivets are the PITAs.

Wish me luck, I pick up the parts in the morning and have to be done before I sleep Thursday night.

I shouldn't have stayed up and gone to see Star Wars tonight

 

[razman131]

Just found my receipts, the lower ones were replaced before. From what I've read the upper ones are "relatively" easy to get the rivets out... evidentally the lower rivets are the PITAs.

Wish me luck, I pick up the parts in the morning and have to be done before I sleep Thursday night.

I shouldn't have stayed up and gone to see Star Wars tonight

ya, they are a PITA to get out (the bottom ones). i just did all this a couple weeks ago. was a weekend job.

 

[JeremyG]

Ok, so the bottom ones have already been replaced, I pulled the clip out but can't for the life of me figure out how they come out? Up? Down?

The new part looks like it would slide up from below but the old part looks like it has a lip that wouldn't allow it to slide down?

 

[razman131]

wow!!!... what is it with all these Ball Joint threads latlely :sorry:

do a search of all the threads iv responded too, both here and Dak USA....

"The new part looks like it would slide up from below but the old part looks like it has a lip that wouldn't allow it to slide down"

when ya finally getthe old one loose/out, it will slide out of a pocket in the lower control arm. the joint points DOWN and has four bolts to put it back in with. torque to ~60ftlbs