I have a bad u-joint on the front pass. side of the axle on my 03. How hard is that to pull and change out. I am inclined to do this myself and have a bunch of tools, but no specialty stuff. Is this doable. Are there any "special" tools needed/ ways arount it or is it pull the tire/rotor/brake, and take the unit bearing off and pull the axle shaft.

Thanks.

 

You got it! It sounds easier than it usually is though.......the hub gets stuck pretty hard in the knuckle. I use the "power steering" method to get them out. Do a search and you'll find hours of reading! Good luck!

 

I'm all for fixing it my self but the cheapest u joint i could find was $55. Dealer wanted $250 to do it all. I went to recommended local machanice that works on 4x4 and got it done for $182. He had it done in about an hour but he had puller and press. I know the pulling the break calaper i couldn't break the bolts lose with a 350 ft/lb air gun or a 25 in breaker bar. It was worth it to me not to waste severalhours of life and getting upset but I may not have the tool and experince you have.

 

I think I could do it myself, I have a press and some tools, but the problem I have right now is time, and like you I don't really care to get into something half way and have another problem I will spend hours trying to fix.

I am going to call around and see how much the local shops want to do it.

 

Just be ready for extra expenses. If the hub bearing has never been removed and who ever does the job pulls it off wrong it will separate. $$$ to replace. Also use lots antisieze when putting back together. check ball joints at the same time.

 

The local *********** wanted $460 to it. I found another place for $216 that I will have them do it.

I hear you on the unit bearing. I did one of them myself on a 1/2 ton 01 dodge I had. PITA to get off. I recently checked the ball joints myself and they seemed ok to me.

 

I guess you must be over 70k on the miles, otherwise it'd be a warranty item (drivetrain).

 

Yup 93,000 on the clock.

 

Would you believe the u-joint is covered, but not the hub assembly. that's what I was told by dealer.

 

I just spent $148 / side + U-Joint at the dealer. The greasable was $80 compared to the OEM $100. The tech told me that they come out hard and break easy.

 

I wouldn't blink having the shop do it for that price. I told the dealer guy over the phone it's not that hard of a job, but he gave me a song and dance about its time consuming. I have seen guys out on the trails change out a Dana 60 knuckle in just over an hour.

 

make sure you have an 1-11/16 socket before you start or you wont get very far. other than that its a pretty easy job.

 

That is correct!!! Took mine to the local shop for front u joints, $100 pay for warrenty no big deal, called me a day later and told me my front hubs were bad (both)!!! and the tie rods were bad and dodge only covered the u joints. Truck only has 47000 miles on it. I even called dodge to complaint and they said " sorry sir dodge does not cover thoughs items" Well F*%$ ME!! So $1300 later back on the road with a rag on the seat to soak up the blood from my butt! SO DO NOT LET THE FRONT HUBS COME APART FROM THE BEARING OR YOU WILL BUY NEW ONES AT 360 BUCKS A SIDE FROM DODGE!