Did some general maintenance today on the 01, while rotating the tires I checked the ball joints with the dial indicator and have .019 slop on drivers side and .027 on pass side.......................Judging by unusual tire wear this must be too much? What is spec tolerance and where to buy after market ball joints???

Cheers, Kevin

 

I guess i cant tell you when too much is too much as per dial indicators. My idea of to much is when it feels like you hit a patch of Ice and the road is dry, abnormal tire wear, Or if really bad, step back and look haha, When the wheels are fallin off time to replace! I would say if shes handlin fine and the tire wear isnt likek what the heck. Pry wouldnt worry much, Call your local tire coop and see what they say,

 

The 2000 dodge manual calls for not more than .030 in lateral movement.

 

Search doesnt turn up much..................what brand of ball joints are best, I want greasable ones this time, Moog ball joint any good?

Cheers, Kevin

 

Moog is a good part, so are trw.

 

I talked to a lot of people and a few front end shops and they all recommended Moog. The best price I was able to find was $66.79 @ Rockauto. I did mine about a month ago and it made a huge difference in handling.

rockauto

Good luck, Doug

 

BALL JOINTS.....

Just bought mine Yesterday at Advance Auto,,They have TRW in stock BUT can order MOOG,,I opted for the in stock TRW,,,, They offer Heavy Duty and standard ones. Of course I got the HD ones,,The lowers were $65.00 each and the uppers were $27.00 each. It is raining here today so I will not get them in today (that sucks). BUT Hopefully soon...

Later Bob

Update On Ball joint Ordeal.



Got already to do the job, When I finally opened the BJ Boxes to find the Heavy Duty TRW Joints DON'T have grease fittings.......SO Back to the store,Just to find the standard upper ball joints have grease fittings BUT The standard lowers do NOT have grease fittings,, So I take the uppers with fittings,,And go to my local NAPA store to find they have DANA Ball Joints WITH grease Fittings with a Lifetime guaranty,,, I am hoping it is the same people that make the Diff.Then the only problem I had was NOT having a inch and eleven sixteenths socket,For the axle nut The biggest I have is 1 5/16,,Luckily I used to work at my local Dodge dealer and still good friends with some Mechanics down there ,and borrowed a socket from them. Now one side is done and will do the other side this Monday. Finger crossed

The saga continues
Bob


YES The saga continues..
I have installed the other side balljoints yesterday, What a job getting the wheel bearings out
After a few hours ,,,I was done ,, Thank goodness,, All that was left was to GREASE the ball joints,, Lower went fine THE UPPER,,,WONT take grease,,I tried for hours to get grease in it BUT I could not get grease in it!!!!!! NOW I need to get another NEW ball joint from advance auto,, The FIRST thing I will do is to put grease in it before I pull any tools out, SO that's the way I will start My MONDAY,,,,,, AHHHHHHH


Last Update

BALL JOINTS DONE!!!!!!
Replaced the defective ball joint with no problems BUT After I put it togetherIt looked like I had a axle seal leak,,AFTER 500 miles of driving ,,IT has stopped And level in the diff is perfect.....

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