Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Ball Joints

[Six_Man_Diesel]

Went to get the the ole Goat's front end aligned today, turns out my ball joints are wore out, and why shouldn't they be with 215,000 miles on them. Cheapest I found them was 39. 99 for the upper, and 49. 99 for the lower, anyone know where I can get them cheaper?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.



Willie

 

[illflem]

Go ask the dealer how much they want for them then anything will seem cheaper.

 

[The patriot]

I gotta tell ya Willie, that's pretty dam reasonable.

I will get the adjustable ones when the time comes even though theyre almost $70. 00 each.

Sometimes cheap aint what you want.

JM . 02

Eric

 

[TStetson]

I went to autozone and got them for 34. 99 and 25. 99 liftime warrenty. Im pretty shur those are right if not + or - a buck or 2.



I feel your pain. I had to do ball joints, tie rod ends and trck bar. What a pita. And not many places carry the tie rod ends at 60 to 120 a piece. That hurts the pocket.



Hope all goes well.

Tony

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Still not sorry I got the Moog HD lifetime-warranty ball joints (do a search and you'll find the P/N). I put a short straight fitting on the uppers and can easily reach them with a right-angle gun by clocking the cross shaft out of the way. BTW, the SINGLE most effective thing I found for front alignment - NEW heavier springs which restored the Doghouse's chassis attitude and returned the caster back to normal.

 

[Batman]

Slewis... ... ... ... ... ..... Just be happy you don't have a 2001 4x4 3500 like me... ... ... ... ... no-one has the ball joints but the stealer. $220 each side... ... ... ..... it was a serious PITA to change these. I'm a desk jocky for a living and thanks to MASSDIESEL and TIM J I got these installed... ... ... ... ... ... ... . don't ewant to do that anytime soon again.



Good luck

 

[TPlasek]

What are the symptoms or signs of worn out ball joints??? Basicly, how did you know they were worn out???

I would like to check my 2000 with 95k.

 

[Batman]

Hopefully someone will correct any errors I make below:



Put a floor jack under the fron axle tube on one side lifting the tire a couple inches off the ground, take a crow-bar or other long metal bar and lift the tire up and let it go back down... . you shouldn't see much movement of the (?) metal bracket assembly.



HTH... ... ... ... . and hope I'm correct. My passenger side lower was worn pretty good and the drivers sied was worn about half that of the passengers... ..... no offroading or abusive driving, they were replaced a 54K miles.

 

[BWilson]

Correct Batman. Travel if measured with an indicator on a mag base should be less than . 030"