Ball Joints

[jmtandem]

On the third gen '05 how long have most folks been going before ball joint replacement?

 

[AH64ID]

I replaced mine at 86K miles. The passenger side upper started showing signs of wear around 55K, the others were starting to show wear around 80K.

I do drive on a lot of dirt roads with the front axle above 5,000 lbs, so I am sure that is hard on the BJ's.

 

[cerberusiam]

I put in uppers every 80-90k and the lowers went about 180k before they were way to sloppy. That was mostly hiway driving.

How you use the truck and the roads makes a huge difference. Some guys only get 30k out of the OE joints because of where and how they drive.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Every other month :-laf

 

[BDaugherty]

I have an 07 4wd mega cab dually in the shop right now with 260k on it. The ball joints are original, but the passenger upper has developed play since the last service.
The ones in my personal truck went 220k, then one died again at 240k. It seems like uppers are the first to go.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

lift kits and huge tires exacerbate the wear.

 

[cannongeorge]

Mine is 2004. 5 and both uppers and lowers needed replacing @~95K miles. Disappointing, vehicle is stock no lift. The aftermarket solution ended up being Raybestos; still disappointing in that you cannot leave zerk fittings in but I diligently swap plugs for fittings and grease. But I still expect to have to replace soon, by ~150K. I also now note stabilizer links look deformed, need new bushings. Maybe next time I'll spring for very $$$$ Carli ball joints?

 

[seafish]

I am at 95k and will be replacing upper and lower with Carlis in the next month. Dealer replaced passenegr side upper and lower at 55k under warranty.

 

[frank1]

Are the fourth generation trucks doing any better???

 

[jelag]

I own and 05 dually and use 19. 5 tires... I didn't start to see abnormal tire wear till it was past 135K miles. . I don't rotate, I run a rib tire on the front and all season on the rear. at that point I installed new ball joints and tie rod ends. .

I'm sure they were out of tolerance but until I started to see the tire wear it didn't make much sense to change them... I used Raybestos Professional Grade from rockauto.com They suggest that their product is better than the OE joints... time will tell...

 

[Got HO?]

245k on my originals. 290k on the truck now.

 

[JCasper]

I had Factory Ball joints in until about 120K, XRF lasted 15K. Running OEM from Quad4x4 now. I am hearing some noises already with 20,000 on them. I will be checking them soon.

Carli's will be next, should of gone that route in the first place

 

[jmtandem]

Thanks everybody, appreciate it. I am at 120,000 miles and all is still good.

 

[ro23j]

My 2006 needed uppers at 58,000 miles according to the dealer. All highway miles, no severe duty or towing. The truck still had the original tires, front brake pads, etc.

I replaced them with Carli's.

 

[Regcabguy]

My 2007 passenger side ones are pretty worn. Driver side good. 54K

 

[Regcabguy]

My 2007 passenger side ones are pretty worn. Driver side good. 54K. Camper's been on since new. 4400# front axle load.

 

[AH64ID]

Even with that camper you front axle weight is about 800-900 lighter than my empty FAW. Loaded with the TT I drop to about 4700-4800.

 

[jmtandem]

Previously I carried a 4000 pound cabover camper on the truck; and now tow an 8000 pound travel trailer. Both take some weight off the front axle.

 

[jwduke]

46,000 miles on mine, I replaced with Dynatrac ball joints. Made a BIG difference.

 

[Regcabguy]

Even with that camper you front axle weight is about 800-900 lighter than my empty FAW. Loaded with the TT I drop to about 4700-4800.

Sure,but lots of leverage especially offroad with the camper.