I have a 2001.5 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4. How do I replace the uppder left front ball joint?

I have done this on cars with ease. But never on a 4WD vehicle. I see I have to take out the U-joint to get in there and press out the ball joint. So does that mean I have to take the castle nut, rotor, caliper, spindle, tie rod end off: to take out the U-joint and to press the ball joint out?

I tried loosening the castle nut with a breaker bar, but it will not budge. I lubed the **** out of it too. It takes a 1-11/16 socket to fit on there, I must of used about 230 lbs of force and nothing. Plus the rotor want to turn. I didn't have anyone with me to hit the brakes, so I used a tire iron as leverage against the studs to hold the rotor so it wouldn't spin. I don't want to push any harder and end up snapping a stud. So I will try it one last time tomorrow with someone holding the brakes for me. Do you think if I tried heating up the castle nut, it might help breaking it loose? These front ends are solid, but a ***** to work on!
Thanks,
Tim

 

You have to take the hub assembly off to do the 04's Ball joints not sure why it wouldnt be the same with a 01. If you search posts you will see its a huge issue and costs on the 3rd gens under warranty repair work of the U joint.

 

I've had to use a cutting torch and on both of the ball joints to get mine out. then press whats left out. At $75 a ball joint, not a real cheap fix.

 

When I replaced the hub assy. and axle u-joint's I popped off the center cap and busted loose the hub nut before I jacked it up and took the wheel off. Took soaking it in PB Blaster overnight, a 3/4 inch breaker bar and a 4 foot cheater pipe to break that bloody nut loose.

 

I leave the tires on the ground to bust the nut loose.
Don't get carried away with a 4' cheater bar though, you're likely to take threads off the axle = $$$. They are usually galled on because someone didn't use anti seize.
If penetrating oil and then heat doesn't get it I use a hydraulic nut splitter but a grinder could work also.

 

Check the tech articles under third gen for Mr Gadgets article "How to replace ball Joints". Its third gen but it still applies to our second gens. The pdf one has pictures in it.