Two questions for those with more experience than I:


I just had an oil change at my dealership, and they told me my ball joints were wearing and needing replaced. Also, my front shocks were starting to leak. My 04 only has 40000 miles. Is this fairly common?
Also, they are recommending cleaning the injectors. I know all they do--and charge a lot--is to run a cleaning solution through them. Are there other alternatives such as injector cleaners I can buy at my car parts store?
This dealership has a good reputation, and I trust their recommendations. But I would like to save a buck if I can.

 

well i dont know if i have an answer for you on either question. but my truck right around 50000 miles i started to get the good ole death wobble. i replaced my steering stabilzer with no change in the death wobble. it turned out to be my ball joints were shot. i have heard from many different people/ dealerships that dodge/chrysler ball joints are crap.
Dont know what to tell you about the injectors though im curious as well.

 

Go w/ Carli Suspension HD Upper Ball Joints. These things are stout and will out last your vehicle. I got a pair installed a couple of days ago.

http://www.thecarlisuspension.com/do...alljoints.html

 

The OEM shocks are junk, and the ball joints aren't much better - they're sized like a 1/2 ton Chevy, yet the lowers carry the full weight of the front end, since the upper ball joints are basically floating king pins.

 

Where's the price?

 

... you know what they say - "if you have to ask, you can't afford it!"

 

I replaced both upper and lower ball joints with Moog. They are expensive to buy but if you keep the reciept they are garanted for life. If they wear out you just pay the labour.

 

$550........

 

Funny thing -- was getting a front end alignment at a local shop, and they showed me some movement in the ball joints. Said they needed replacement. I told them to forget the alignment and took it to the Dodge dealer. He said the joints were within spec. I think the local shop wanted $1440, plus alignment.

 

The labor's most of the expense. Go with the Carli's. They're $550 a pair. Last ones you'll ever struggle to get in.

 

Bank's told me my lift pump was about to fail. I took it to the dealer. They said within specs. LP took a dive two weeks later.

 

dealer replaced my upper and lower ball joints right at 36.000 miles. after about a month later they had play in the upper ball joints , dodge said they were within specs. I drilled and tapped the upper balljoints and installed my own grease fittings, after greasing them, they tightened up and have no play, I just give them a couple of pumps every oil change and everything stay tight.

 

Dodge ball joints have a long history of failure. Some people will tell you they have gone zillions of miles w/o any problems but they are far and few between. Most people have to replace theirs well before 75k. Mine have been replaced twice along with most of the other front suspension parts in an attempt to cure DW!!!!! I'm not sure it is cured, it just hasn't happened in awhile. More and more after market ball joints and front suspension parts are becoming available and appear to be a good fix for the problem although they are very pricey. I think Dodge has redesigned their front suspension in either 07 or 08.
Jay

 

My truck has almost 70k miles and is still on stock ball joints, and just had an alignment done and the ball joints were still fine. But i'm not holding my breath on them lasting to much longer.

 

$550? Is that a freakin joke?