Ball Joints Toast on an 03 4x4

[DPKetchum]

Well when specs allows a certain amount of play and the auto comes in with no signs of having been lubed in ages and you lube it and its goes from some minor looseness to tight and no looseness kinda hard to sell them joints as someone else was trying to do. Some of these autos we saw for years afterwards and never had ball joints replaced.

 

[SHyans]

I think some of the joints are being replaced, when they are not bad! They have to have some play in them in order to hold Grease!



My opinion,



Wayne

amsoilman

A brief elaboration:

Extreme DEATH WOBBLE at 55-65 mph. Scared to death, crapped my pants. Take to dealer. Dealer replaces left frt ball joint, etc. Extreme DEATH WOBBLE still lives. Crapped pants again. Take back to dealer. Dealer replaces right side. Extreme DEATH WOBBLE gone. I got your grease right here in my pocket! :-laf

 

[realsquash]

Bad balljoints are not what's causing your death wobble, it's the caster change combined with the heavier tires.



Andy

 

[SHyans]

Bad balljoints are not what's causing your death wobble, it's the caster change combined with the heavier tires.



Andy

Oh God, not this again... . never mind!

 

[DPelletier]

Oh God, not this again... . never mind!

He's right!



Dave

 

[Matt400]

And the Caster changes with bad ball joints.

 

[realsquash]

And the Caster changes with bad ball joints.

You get more caster change from the deflection in the bushings on the control arms than from bad balljoints. That is an insignificant amount.



Andy

 

[HOBrian]

I'm inclined to run as is till someone comes out will a good replacement ball joint. I'd rather put in quality parts myself that have a dealer putting in worthless DC parts that will only limp my truck along for a few thousand miles.





Melcher I am with you. I just checked mine and they are shot as well :{

 

[JMelcher]

I figure till the front end goes to shakin' or the wheels fall off, I'm good to go. I've never seen slack in the ball joints and they not be bad, but I think I'll just check mine regularly for the change from bad ball joint to rolling death trap.

 

[Kilby]

I took my '03 2500 in last Tuesday for a couple of warranty repair items. One of those items was the steering was sticking when driving straight ahead and the steering wheel being between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock position. Move the wheel to the left, it stays left until the driver manually corrects it. Same if turned to the right. However if you were to make a right turn, the steering would return to center like it should UNTIL it got to that same 11-1 o'clcok area.



My first thoughts were either bad ball joints or a bad gear box. After reading this thread, I'm leaning towards the ball joints. The dealer of course is blaming the 35" tires, wheel and T-Rex suspension as the cause of the problem. Heck, they even blamed the Gear Vendors overdrive unit for my gas pedal sticking. Heh heh! I'm sure I'll get the "call" Monday about all the work they won't/can't perform because of these aftermarket modifications.

 

[diesel DOG]

I have 59,00 on my 01 and thought that was bad that they were shot till I read this. Dodge has a big problem.

 

[frtendtech]

tires

i also had to replace 6 tires,all 6 good for a years, side wall failure you need to file complaint with national traffic safty. these tires need recalled!!!

 

[Kilby]

I forgot to come back and tell you guys, but the problem with my steering turned out to be the gear box. They replaced it and all is good. They replaced my front tires with stock tires to verify the problem then put mine back on. I only wish they would have torqued the nuts down though because I lost one lug nut and all others up front were loose. Nice.

 

[Task125]

Im bringing mine in on the 18th,for upper and lowers,service guy said they have been backed up with all dakota recall on balljoints,must be the same part

 

[JWaters]

ball joints

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!?

Our 1/2 ton 03 Hemi ram 4x4 has 76,000 on it and the jionts are like new... maybe you would be better off having the 1/2 front end? You have the best motor just that dodge gave you the cheapest front end for the 2500/3500 trucks!

 

[Matt400]

maybe you would be better off having the 1/2 front end? You have the best motor just that dodge gave you the cheapest front end for the 2500/3500 trucks!

Naw, that wouldn't work. . the CTD would snap those puny aluminum control arms.

 

[DPKetchum]

Not the cheapest front end. A vendor problem on ball joints. I bet a vendor is up to his eyeballs with D. C. right about now. Many 03s etc. Don't and won't have a problem. Some will. Service writer at the dealer i go to is now seeing bad/dry U?JOINTS on gas trucks. 1/2 tons.

 

[Task125]

1/2 ton trucks are for women,unless it has a viper in it.

 

[daytripper63]

1/2 ton trucks are for women,unless it has a viper in it.

Isnt 1/2 ton truck an OXYMORON

kinda like military intelligence :-laf

 

[rbattelle]

I don't care what load rating it comes in, I want nothing to do with a vehicle whose ball joints are permanently integrated with a control arm!



-Ryan