Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
TGVET
TDR MEMBER
05 3500 QC SRW 4x4 171K highway miles every once in a while lighter towing and lighter loads.
Well, I just had mine done yesterday 1/15. In Aug. 2007, I had my uppers done as well as U-joints all w/ greasable zurcs. (I'm a maintenance freak. ) Not long after I had my uppers done, I was towing my job trailer and a load in the box, nothing too taxing for the 3500 mind you and going about 30mph when some dumb-A caused me to hit the binders hard. From that point on, I seemed to notice a mild vibration up through the steering wheel. I had things checked out, wheels rebalanced with no improvement. December 30th 09, another individual bolted out into traffic in front of me and I jammed the breaks hard to avoid the collision. He hit my right front wheel slashing the side wall with nothing much else damaged, but I had definitely noticed a more pronounced steering issue going on (after getting all new tires).
Took it in to my shop and they determined both upper and lower ball joints were now bad. Mechanically inclined as I am, I was right in there along with them to inspect. Even though the uppers they previously installed were lifetime warranted, due to the collision and breaking hard, it was determined undue stress was applied to the joints and the supplier of the uppers would not warranty the replacement. Fortunately, my insurance covered the work as the uninsured motorist caused the accident.
150. 00+ per joint (SKS parts) plus labor, totaled over 980. 00 covered by insurance. (I'm open to input on SKS or other Mnf. ) My front pinion seal had been leaking for a long time too, first noticed around 60K+ plus if memory serves me, so I had them replace it while on the lift for 150. 00 (my expense). Perhaps it could have been covered under drive train, but I DON'T trust the dealerships.
ALSO, while in the shop and tore apart, I decided to look at the right hub on the floor. Upon inspecting it to see if it was in need of bearings, unbeknown to me, they are NON-SERVICEABLE. #$%%^. . Word to the wise here... Spend more time on TDR . . Anyhow, it was growling some as I spun it around so, I picked up the driver side to compare and was still smooth like new. Time was running short as the work progressed and I was forced to make a decision about what to do with "that hub" and fast.
My mechanic, Roy Engle made the phone calls as well as searching on line. Hubs were ranging from the 300. 00's to the 500. 00's depending on the source. OEM price highest naturally. His best price to me for non-OEM was just over cost at 370. 00 EACH... . %^#%^#^..... Being that I'm not one to just replace one thing of what ought to be equal wear time, 700. 00+ was no way in my budget. SO, we called the local SCHUKS / O'reilly and found them (unfortunately from CHINA which, I hate) for 129. 00 ea. w/a one year warranty. (I'm open to anyone's personal experience with China ones. )
This is leading to wanting to know what others have been experiencing with the above as well as, to help any and to address johnnyboy_10138 posting. Additionally, anyone switching out front hubs to Dynatrac free spin hubs, with Warn hubs or the Dyntrac ones (considerably more $$) and what kind of MPG increase they are getting. Obviously, there will be far less wear on the ring & pinion, front drive-line joints and seals too and possibly any vibration I would think.
Being that I want to switch over to Dynatrac and some point in the near future, I did not want to spend a pile of much needed reserves for hubs now.
I hope this helps others out there on the ball joint and some other issues.
Well, I just had mine done yesterday 1/15. In Aug. 2007, I had my uppers done as well as U-joints all w/ greasable zurcs. (I'm a maintenance freak. ) Not long after I had my uppers done, I was towing my job trailer and a load in the box, nothing too taxing for the 3500 mind you and going about 30mph when some dumb-A caused me to hit the binders hard. From that point on, I seemed to notice a mild vibration up through the steering wheel. I had things checked out, wheels rebalanced with no improvement. December 30th 09, another individual bolted out into traffic in front of me and I jammed the breaks hard to avoid the collision. He hit my right front wheel slashing the side wall with nothing much else damaged, but I had definitely noticed a more pronounced steering issue going on (after getting all new tires).
Took it in to my shop and they determined both upper and lower ball joints were now bad. Mechanically inclined as I am, I was right in there along with them to inspect. Even though the uppers they previously installed were lifetime warranted, due to the collision and breaking hard, it was determined undue stress was applied to the joints and the supplier of the uppers would not warranty the replacement. Fortunately, my insurance covered the work as the uninsured motorist caused the accident.
150. 00+ per joint (SKS parts) plus labor, totaled over 980. 00 covered by insurance. (I'm open to input on SKS or other Mnf. ) My front pinion seal had been leaking for a long time too, first noticed around 60K+ plus if memory serves me, so I had them replace it while on the lift for 150. 00 (my expense). Perhaps it could have been covered under drive train, but I DON'T trust the dealerships.
ALSO, while in the shop and tore apart, I decided to look at the right hub on the floor. Upon inspecting it to see if it was in need of bearings, unbeknown to me, they are NON-SERVICEABLE. #$%%^. . Word to the wise here... Spend more time on TDR . . Anyhow, it was growling some as I spun it around so, I picked up the driver side to compare and was still smooth like new. Time was running short as the work progressed and I was forced to make a decision about what to do with "that hub" and fast.
My mechanic, Roy Engle made the phone calls as well as searching on line. Hubs were ranging from the 300. 00's to the 500. 00's depending on the source. OEM price highest naturally. His best price to me for non-OEM was just over cost at 370. 00 EACH... . %^#%^#^..... Being that I'm not one to just replace one thing of what ought to be equal wear time, 700. 00+ was no way in my budget. SO, we called the local SCHUKS / O'reilly and found them (unfortunately from CHINA which, I hate) for 129. 00 ea. w/a one year warranty. (I'm open to anyone's personal experience with China ones. )
This is leading to wanting to know what others have been experiencing with the above as well as, to help any and to address johnnyboy_10138 posting. Additionally, anyone switching out front hubs to Dynatrac free spin hubs, with Warn hubs or the Dyntrac ones (considerably more $$) and what kind of MPG increase they are getting. Obviously, there will be far less wear on the ring & pinion, front drive-line joints and seals too and possibly any vibration I would think.
Being that I want to switch over to Dynatrac and some point in the near future, I did not want to spend a pile of much needed reserves for hubs now.
I hope this helps others out there on the ball joint and some other issues.
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