2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front ball joints

[RCrosby]

Just had new tires put on, shop said that the ball joint needs to be replace, i seen it myself went he was installing tires. The right side was worn more. Jut buy moving tire side to side, dodge has the ball joint rivited .how big of a job is it going to be. I may do it myself thanks.

 

[rkressg]

The 4wd trucks suck. I have never done a 2wd, but I would imagine the control arm could be removed and put in a press to change the ball joints.
You will need the correct tools if you do this on the truck, and it will take just about everything you have to get the old ball joints out, including a hot wrench.

All the trucks I have done require burning the ball joints off, as the hub is always stuck in the knuckle. The heat helps get the ones out.

It is doable if you are handy with working on vehicles, and if you have good tools. If you are not comfortable with heavy truck work, take it to a truck shop to be repaired.
You will likely need to replace the wheel bearings as well, and this will probably be a $1,000 job.

-Rich

 

[NGuzik]

I hate it when I see a post about dodge front end work and it always ends in "well the front bearing are going to be junk after you look at it to hard". If you plan on reusing them, don't use heat on them, don't use a 20lbs sledge hammer and use common sense. Just makes me sad knowing people actually have to destroy perfectly fine bearing all the time.. I live in the middle of the rust belt and have only lost one bearing but it was totally separated before I started.

 

[Cosmo]

They're not that bad.

4wd ones are a bigger pain in the balls.

 

[JR]

Being in the rust belt I don't even bother trying to press them out on the truck anymore if they have been on a long time. Once the calipers, rotors, caliper brackets, and wheel bearings are removed I take the nuts loose on the upper and lower ball joints and cut the studs off with a cut off wheel. A couple of good wacks with a 3 lb beater and a drift pin and the entire spindle assembly comes right off. Then you can take everything to a hydraulic press and press the old ball joints out and the new back in and reinstall.
I would also change out the universals while you have everything apart.

 

[JMcCoy]

Cutting them off, to take the whole assembly to the hydraulic press, will only work on 94-99 trucks. 94-99 the ball joints were pressed into the outer knuckle. 00-02 front ends had the ball joints pressed into the inner knuckle. If you have a 00-02, you will have to bring the press to the truck. I have had good luck with the kit from Harbor Freight. Not a great kit, but I am able to make it work. It is not a horribly difficult job, just labor intensive and time consuming. Not one of those enjoyable projects. Not unless you enjoy laying in a puddle of blood, sweat, dirt, and grease. Usually a little beer too. Don't by cheap ball joints. Put ant seize and blue Loctite on everything. Good luck.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I use a Snapon BJP1 set and have had no problems pressing them out. The Snap on set is very rigid and will take a lot of pressure without bending the C press. Some parts stores will loan you an OTC set to do it. I haven't had to use any heat but I spray them with penetrating oil before putting pressure to them. There is always a nice audible pop when they break loose. Press the old ones out and then press in the new ones.