2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Ball Joints

[LawDawgSHPD]

Well it's time to do ball joints again, only 5 years out of this set. Just curious if anyone has used the Dynatrac HD rebuildable ball joints & how you liked them & if they're worth the significant difference in cost over the Moog? Their website states that they're rebuildable without removing them from the truck. Truck is a 98.5 24v 4x4 daily driver, never tow, with 367,000 miles.

 

[SAndreasen]

Grease the upper and lower every 5000 miles they should last forever

 

[Texis]

I have had very good luck with the Auto Zone pieces, I believe they are Duralast. Keep them greased and the will go a very long time. I can get 200,000+ out of them. When I completely rebuilt my front end (80K ago) I changed them out, but the first ones I had installed were still good and they had 200K on them. Not sure why you would pay for specialty items at high dollars for these pieces?

 

[Evanson]

I installed Carli joints in my '11. They work great, 125,K on them tight as when installed. Little ok a lot pricey but they come in a cool box.

 

[APulpan]

I just posted a thread b 4 I had found this thread. I have just replaced my upper and lower ball joints 36,000 miles ago and I went with moog. Just went for an alignment because I got new tires and now they have slop in them. My previous tires had no abnormal wear. So my question is WHY??? I went with moog because of the name and reputation. I am lil irritated now because I spent the extra money on moog. Thoughts? I also greased them every 3 - 5000 miles.

Thanks

 

[SAndreasen]

Have you checked for play yourself ? Sounds to me like your getting the reputable shop treatment - that means getting s c r e w e d Did they recommend a muffler bearing flush and re pack as well ?

 

[APulpan]

well I went out to the shop when the service advisor told me because I wanted to see what they were seeing. It moves up and down a little bit but not side to side. Come to find out when I took it for a 2nd opinion (repair shop where I bought the moog ball joints) and I was there when they checked it out and dodge is allowed some up and down movement so false alarm!!!! thank goodness. Sooooo lesson learned just go to the shop that knows dodge pickups!!!! Thanks for the help.

 

[Killer223]

brand new one have up n down movement.
that is an old trick to get people to buy new ones. they put a pry-bar under your tire and show you the normal movement and tell you you need to replace them. it's a common SCAM!!!

 

[JR]

No doubt there are mechanics out there that will drum up work at the expense of your wallet. There are probably just as many that never bother looking at individual specs and tolerances and condemn them at the first sight of play.

LawDawg, which ball joints do you currently have? Depending on your use, 5 years may not be that bad. If I could get 5 years out of a set I wouldnt be all that disappointed. For me that's about 100k miles worth of rough secondary roads and dirt roads with a good bit of towing thrown in the mix. I also run larger tires. The last time I changed my ball joints out I don't believe Dynatrac made ball joints for 2nd gen trucks or I would have went with them.

It all comes down to your plans with your truck as to whether the Dynatracs are worth it. If you are planning to keep it indefinitely I wouldn't hesitate to spend the money now and be done with it. On the other hand, alot can change over the course of 5 years (assuming you could get the same use out of another set).

 

[LawDawgSHPD]

When I had them replaced I don't know what brand they put on but I stuck with Moog this time. My truck is a daily driver & I don't tow at all so I couldn't justify the cost of the Dynatrac.