Ball Joints Toast on an 03 4x4

[Matt400]

I am kinda bummed, was just doing my 22,5K service and thought with all the talk about pre-mature ball joint failure I would check mine and sure enough they are bad at only 22456 miles.



No tire wear or drivability trouble yet, I hope they come out with a better joint for the replacement.



The way to check em is to lift the truck at the axle to where the tire is a few inches off the ground and then using a pry-bar between the tire and ground see if you can get some upward movement.

 

[PJ]

I got you beat. I had my truck aligned today. Lithia in Grants Pass sub-let out to Les Schwab Tire to do the job. I just got the news I need upper ball joints at 12k on my 04! I see the kiddos at D/C must have taken the lowest bidder on making these for the 3 gen truck. Still no camber adjustment on these trucks. Lucky for me, my camber is right on! I was just a bit toed in. Had the ball joint problem not come up, I might have had another alignment last another 1,000 miles. Whats up Chrysler??? do you hear me????

 

[100 Proof]

Is this covered by the 3/36?



100 Proof

 

[PJ]

Yes, its covered. the only problem is that there isnt any in stock anywhere because Chrysler saved a few bucks and had them built by the lowest bidder and they are breaking on 1 out of every 2 trucks within 12k miles. Mine are on back order. Isnt it great when the factory rep from D/C calls you up and tells you to park your truck and wait until they get the parts and oh yes, sir, you should have gone across the street and bought a duramax. . Im falling out of love very quick with my Dodge. If it wasnt for the Cummins motor, Dodge would never sell a truck.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

I got you beat. At 19,000K I've had ALL 4 ball joints replaced on mine. I think they have been bad since almost new due to I've had 4 alighnments and tracking problems forever. Now It's great.

 

[SRadke]

I wonder if they would warrantee a lifted truck? If they did you'd hear some whining.



-Scott

 

[Matt400]

I've had ALL 4 ball joints replaced on mine. Now It's great.

Any idea if they put the same joint back in or if its a better one?

 

[rbattelle]

The way to check em is to lift the truck at the axle to where the tire is a few inches off the ground and then using a pry-bar between the tire and ground see if you can get some upward movement.

Matt,



I thought the way to test ball joints was to lift the wheel, then grab it along the bottom and try to pull out away from the truck. If it moves more than a certain amount, the joint is bad.



Either way, we should be thankful we don't have a 1/2 ton! Service manual says on those trucks the upper ball joint is integral to the upper control arm, so if the joint goes bad you must replace the entire control arm. Any guesses how much that costs!?

 

[Tony T.]

Ball Joint Check

Looks like another routine service to perform every 5K for me now when I do the oil & filter change since reading about all these going bad with so little miles. Just checked mine about 800 miles ago when I did the oil change. They where ok then!

 

[rbattelle]

What's the warranty period on the ball joints?

 

[PJ]

I have the worthless Chrysler 7 year/100k zero deduct. I would assume it would be covered for the 3 year 36k basic warranty, but I could be wrong.

 

[Matt400]

Matt,



I thought the way to test ball joints was to lift the wheel, then grab it along the bottom and try to pull out away from the truck. If it moves more than a certain amount, the joint is bad.

Not really, sometimes a bad joint will show that way but not always. There is allot of weight hanging there when you add up the tire, wheel, hub, stub axle, bearing & steering knuckle. That weight can put enough downward pressure to where you can't move a worn out joint.



There should be no play in the socket so if you can pry up from under the tire and get movement imagine what happens when you set the trucks weight on it.

Either way, we should be thankful we don't have a 1/2 ton! Service manual says on those trucks the upper ball joint is integral to the upper control arm, so if the joint goes bad you must replace the entire control arm.

The durangos and dakotas are like that but the aftermarket is now making replaceable joints for them.

 

[sarj]

I've heard enough of all this... I'm going to check something out before it affects me.



One of the guys I talked with before buying the CTD has been on Dodge trucks for a few years and he & his kid have been into serious off-road. He mentioned something about ball joints and that he was having some work done replacing his with some super fandango duty ball joints. I'll call him and see what he says and if anything has been made for these trucks. I'm also curious if Kent at T-Rex has dealt with this.



sarj

 

[kentkroeker]

Gents,



The 3rd Gen. OE Dodge ball joints are pretty bad. I think the best way to check them is by supporting the axle, removing the wheel, grabbing the caliper and lifting up and down, checking for vertical movement. We go through a lot of ball joints around here. Four sets (upper and lower) in 45,000 miles. I'm waiting for Moog to come out with an OE replacement. I'm so sick of changing them that now I just run them loose! So far none have failed, they just get sloppy right away. I think if enough people complain, Chrysler will do some kind of upgrade program for 3rd Gen owners.



I have to say that there's not much else to complain about concerning these great Dodge trucks. I've done insane things with ours and have broken very few parts. Believe me; these trucks are really well built.



Cheers,



Kent Kroeker

 

[MMeier]

Hmmmm... . guess I had better check mine when I service it next week! Have 45,000 miles on her now in 21 months. Truck has had the "drift" to the right problem since day one. Just put 6 new tires on it too week before last at 42k miles due too "rips" in the sidewalls on the steer axle tires :{ , wonder if weak ball joints could somehow be responsible for this?

 

[MFalkinham]

We go through a lot of ball joints around here. Four sets (upper and lower) in 45,000 miles.

You've gotta be kidding me!



Gawd, I'm really starting to love the "old-fashioned" kingpins on my 1st Gen. Still good after 148k miles.



Maybe I'll have to rethink my plans to purchase a used 3rd Gen 4x4 in the future.



- Mike

 

[Cummins4WD]

AAM should have used KingPins... I'm wondering if there is a way to upgrade the knuckles with a www.highclearance.com king pin knuckle off a Dana 60... I need to check them before my 36 thousand miles is up because DC does not cover ball joints after the initial 3/36000... even though they are part of the front axle housing... pure BS!



Randy

 

[Matt400]

The replacement to look for is this one



I don't see it yet in the application guide but the good news is they are already making other replacement steering parts up through 04 CTD's.

Give them a call at 800-325-8886 and say we need ball joints!



I would warranty my own when these come out vs doing them over & over again.

Heck maybe if you know the people good at your dealer one could swap these into an OE box and have DC do the labor.

 

[WPeschel]

I just had my upper and lower ball joints replaced at 47,000 miles... They were not covered under the 70,000 mile warranty :{ . But with a little complaining to the District Manager they went ahead and took care of it... They said it would have cost me around 500$ worth of parts plus 500$ worth of labor... :--) Man I was ready to reset sombodys jaw... . But they did take care of it... I will be replaceing them myself when better aftermarkets are available. #@$%!

 

[jrobinson2]

You've gotta be kidding me!



Gawd, I'm really starting to love the "old-fashioned" kingpins on my 1st Gen. Still good after 148k miles.



Maybe I'll have to rethink my plans to purchase a used 3rd Gen 4x4 in the future.



- Mike

Mike

They are basicaly the same as your "kingpins" the quality of the parts is what is in question.

Also I dont think Kents use is "typical"

Kent Kroeker of T-Rex