Ball joints

[DPKetchum]

Toyota recalling 750,000 trucks for ball joint issue. Its not just US! D. C. you need to step up to the plate on 2500/3500 trucks and join the fun.

 

[rbattelle]

I noticed that story on The Car Connection yesterday. Seems like ball joints are a real cause for problems no matter what vehicle they're on. I had a '94 Ranger that had the joints go bad and ruin a set of tires in NO time. What would be really nice is if someone would come out with something stronger and more reliable. Can you use king pins on a 4x4 (having never owned a vehicle with them I'm not sure how they work)? If so, why are ball joints a better choice?



-Ryan

 

[Posm]

I do not think that it is quite the same problem as the Toyota trucks and the Durango/Dakota trucks are having. When the ball joints go bad on these IFS trucks the wheel assemble falls off. I have heard nothing worse than sloppy steering on the Ram HD problems. Don't get me wrong, I think that either joints are poorly designed, but it is not the same safety problem. There was a thread on here about a month ago about a Toyota that had the front tire/wheel assemble fall off at highway speeds. A good friend of mine had a wheel/tire assemble fall off while checking cows. Thankfully he was only going 2 or 3 MPH.

I just ordered ball joints and need to get them installed. They have been bad for some time, but the tires have worn very evenly inspite of the bad ball joints. The joints on my Y2K are still fairly tight at 215K while my 2004 joints were loose at 50K and are now shot at 100K.

 

[DPKetchum]

The point is its a vendor/design/production problem and whether there loose/sloppy steering/bad tire wear or the wheel falls off it shouldn't happen in 50k! Fords are posting some issues also. I've NEVER owned a vehicle(had some rough ones in my teenage years)that EVER needed ball joints. Sold quite a few sets over the years and always REAL high mileage or old and being restored etc.

 

[BRayls]

The point is its a vendor/design/production problem and whether there loose/sloppy steering/bad tire wear or the wheel falls off it shouldn't happen in 50k! Fords are posting some issues also. I've NEVER owned a vehicle(had some rough ones in my teenage years)that EVER needed ball joints. Sold quite a few sets over the years and always REAL high mileage or old and being restored etc.

I will second that.