My 2007 3500 5.9 4x4 has 62K KMs (38,000miles) and the ball joints move up and down a bit. Truck has had an easy life with very little away from pavement. Is this normal? Of course the Dodge dealer says they are within tolerance! The tire store is saying replace them soon. They quoted Moog Lifetime replacements (and greasable) for $1300 all up installed. Horribly expensive though. Also has anyone on this site installed that kit that replaces the front non-hub system with a locking hub and spindle system. Cannot remember their name but the kit is around $1700US. When my spindle bearings go it will be out of warranty so I will install that kit. Just wondering if anyone thought this is the best way to go!

 

The stock ball joints do have a little up and down movement that is allowable. When the upper starts to have side to side movement is when you want to replace them. Mine made it to just over 50k although I have had customers need them by 40k. You might want to stay away from the Moogs as there are quite a threads on here and other Dodge forums about problems with them. As for your other question, you are talking about a free spin kit. There are a few companies making them and the most well known is Dynatrac.

 

Nothing constructive to add except stay away from Moogs, Use forum search function for Moog Ball-joints and read through the results.

 

X2 stay away from moog. I have them, they are garbage, but I'm forced to live with it for now.

I hear XRF's are good.

 

i have moogs thye are junk will live wit hit for now and change them to xrf when the time comes

 

"The stock ball joints do have a little up and down movement that is allowable"
even though thtas what they say that bull if it moves its failing or poorly made period. never had a vehicle that you could move them a little bit at all. like said if it moves its GARBAGE to start with. but not where Dodge will recognize and build quality!

 

Thanks people. love these forums for useful info. I am convinced to go with the 8LugTruckGear ball joints when the time comes. Also will do the hub conversion.

 

Whats the issues w/ Moog? Did they have a bad run of parts? I have almost 100k miles on mine with a lift and 35" tires and they are fine. Also running them on our 12v and our 04.5 and I can't say anything bad about them?

 

From what I have read, the ownership has changed hands, and the QA has went down the toilet. For a while, Moogs were the the best thing you could get. Recently, someone cut some Moogs apart, and found the terrible workmanship that went into them.

 

Just yesterday I replaced the ball joints and installed one half of a free wheeling system on my 06 2500.

I had installed Moog ball joints about 10K miles ago, and although they seem fine, there were so many reports of Moog ball joints not lasting that I decided once I was back under the truck again, I'd swap them out with XRF Ball Joints from "The Tire Club" www.thetireclub.com

$211.00 delivered..........


The free wheeling kit I'm installing is from EMS Off Road. It's a new kit they developed that I must saw is VERY nice. Quite easy to install once you get the #$%^&*^$#@!!! unit bearings off.



https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/....html?t=268904

I also installed new U-Joints for the front axle and new brake pads.

My total cost, less labor is $1915.00

Free Wheel Kit inc U-Joints $1665 delivered
XRF Ball Joints $ 211 delivered
Brake Pads(Autozone) $ 39

I'm doing a total write up on the installation of the kit for my web site.

stay tuned!