So I got my tires rotated today. Discount tire does em for free even if you didn't buy them there, and they do the final torque with a torque wrench not an impact wrench. Anywho, like usual while the wheels are off I go inspect my brakes, they look OK. Then when they put the wheels back on but the truck is still in the air I grab the right fron tire and shake side to side no play, up and down no play. I go to the drivers side and repeat, but up and down ( hands at 12 and 6 o'clock) I got enough play to notice. So I guess some time soon I need to get under there with an indicator and check just how much play I have. I read the service manual and it says bottom can have up to .090" and top can have up to .060" play, HOLY CRAP that's a lot!



Has anyone already done them and found some short cuts? What about a better grade replacement ball joint, maybe one that has grease zerts?



Inquiring minds want to know!

 

the balljoints suck on these rigs,my dads went at 30k km and hes never off road,no waranty on them either.i think moog makes a greasable one,they have been a weak link since the 2nd gens,i needed them on my 01 but put if off till i traded her for the 04,i think mine havebeen done but not with greasable ones.they look diferent than my dads

 

WHAT????? There is no warranty on ball joints that is crazy!!

I hope not because mine are shot too!

 

Not sure the diff. on the 2wd verse 4wd, but thier tuff to get in and out of the lower control arms. Have to remove arm and use a big press. Not going to happen any other way. And yes the new ones from o'rielys have a gresse zert.

 

Mine were replaced under warranty about 8kmi ago when they thought the rattling in the intermediate steering shaft was the ball joints. It wasn't (obviously), so I got new ball joints out of it anyway. They should warranty them.

 

Mine went at 63k and I replaced them with the Moog Problem-Solvers a few months ago. Had a friend whose went at 30k and another friend's dads went out at 15k or so. These parts do suck.

 

OK good news, bad news, and more good news. Ball joints are ok, wheel bearing is bad, service manager is gonna warranty replace both wheel bearings! It pays to cultivate a relationship with a good dealer!

 

wow!, my 03 manual says no more than .020" movement.dodge must have lost a lot of money replacing ball joints under warranty so they up the tolerance to .090".