Got a question? My tires were wearing on the outside on the front of the truck real bad. so i took them in to get rotated, balenced and maybe a alignment. Well they told me that my front and rear ball joints were sloppy and thats why my tires were wearing. I have BFG 315 and a 2 inch leveling kit. I did the leveling kit myself! Im still under warrenty. Do you think the dealership is going to screw with me cuz i put the leveling kit on? Putting the leveling kit on shouldnt have anything to do with the rear ball joints going out. Should it? i can maybe understand the front. any help would be great. I just heard that putting on aftermarket parts can void your warrenty.

Thanks

 

rear ball joint?

 

I know there's upper and lower ball joints, but I've never heard front and rear?
When you did your levelling kit did you adjust the toe? If not, lifting the front end of your truck will naturally give you increased toe-in...which will wear the outside of your front tires. Bad ball joints will usually wear the inside of the tires...

 

had 2 different shops tell me my ball joints were bad. Dealer and 3 other shops said they were perfect.

sounds like a salespitch???????

 

jack the truck up- try to move the tire up and down (12 and 6 o'clock) any play more than a tiny bit-(dodge says up to a 1/4 of an inch is acceptable- i disagree) bad ball joint. now, try to move the tire side to side ( 9 and 3 o'clock) any movement- bad tie rod.

 

Im lost.....

How does lifting the truck increase toe-in??? as in the tires point more towards themself in the front? are we talking a straight axle or independent.

Please explain.....


Not if you are dealing with Litha down there in K falls. They probably wont even question it. When i went in for clutch repairs, they asked why i took my chip off????? said they could not make it slip without....went ahead and replaced the hydraulics. Fixed the problem.

U go 2 OIT?

 

tell you the truth i dont really know crap about trucks at all... the guy at basin tire told me that my front and rear ball joints were bad. that when he had the truck up on the lift he could grab the tire and there was play in it. Im taking it into lithia friday and there going to look into it. Im just scared of them telling me that my warrenty is not going to cover it cuz of the leveling kit. Its a 06 dodge diesel so its a straight axel.


Nahh. Dont go to OIT. Work at the AF base.

 

I doubt that they will say anything. If they do, just ask them kindly to put it in writing.....

You should have no problem.

 

Many 3rd gen ball joints fail very quickly.
There are 2 ball joints on the each end of the front axle, one upper and one lower.

The rear axle is not able to be steered like your front suspension so there is no need to have ball joints on it.

I am on my second set of ball joints. First one failed at 22k.

Get rid of the leveling kit, it will throw most of your front suspension out of whack without the proper mods otherwise.

 

Have a look under your truck...you have a draglink that comes off the pitman arm that y's int your tie rod. You can see that if you lift the truck up it will shorten the distance between the two steering knuckles...Have a look, and I think that you will understand. We are looking at the straight axle and yes, it will make them point slighltly towards each other at the front...

 

Isnt the tie rod link fixed at each knuckle. it is a solid rod that connect the two. the drag link then connects at one knuckle, it would be the drag link that changes distance...due to the angle increase, so wouldnt both tires turn the same way the same distance? How does the tie rod get shorter without actually adjusting it?

I know that the tires will point left (steering wheel off), and the entire axle shifts left, but i had not heard that it will actually cause toe in.



I am asking...not telling.

 

That is correct on a Ford, but on a Dodge the drag link runs from the pitman arm to the passenger steering knuckle...the tie rod connects from the drivers knuckle to a point about 8" out on the drag link, creating a bit of a "Y"...so there is "NOT" a solid tie rod that goes from knuckle to knuckle. Like I said...have a look under your truck, and you'll understand what I am describing. Please trust me on this one

 

Learn something everyday.....

 

Alright i get the ball joint thing now. The paper the tire shop gave me said upper and lower ball joints were bad. And some how i mixed that up. And you said to get rid of the leveling kit unless you have the proper mods. What do i need in order to leave it on. I kinda need it now i put 315 tires on.

also... I know a guy that works at the dealership. And he said if they give you a bad time to ask for a customer service survey and let them know your going to leave bad remarks. And then they will more in likely to help out!

 

What leveling kit do you have, and what components came in the kit?