Frontend Question

[fire8033]

I have a 2004 Dodge 3500 Dually, I recently started hearing a noise in the frontend that sounded like something was in the tire. After alot of troubleshooting I have narrowed it down the the u-joint where the axle connects to the hub which has alot of play. My question is how difficult is this to change, and does anyone know what size nut that is on the hub? I have an 1 1/2 and it's bigger than that.



Thanks for any help

 

[BHanna]

How hard it is to replace depends on how rusted everything is. If your hubs and bearings are rusted in, it can be extremely tough to get the front end apart.

You can get everything you need including the right size socket from Quad 4x4. You probably want to check your ball joints and bearings while you're in there. The ball joints are probably loose if you've put any miles at all on it.

 

[Slow Six]

The hub nut does not need to come off. I just pop the whole assembly out and leave it on the axle. There have been a lot of threads here on this method and some of them explain it better than I can. Do a search possibly under front u joints and you will get a load of good info, I know I did. These little hints on this site make it worth while. Make sure you have anti seize before assembly so that the next time is easier.

 

[fire8033]

Can anyone direct me towards the post Slow Six is talking about, I tried to do a search with no luck. This site is great but the search engine leaves a little to be desired. Thanks for the help

 

[BHanna]

The only way I know you could do that is to cut the ball joints. I've heard of people having to do that if the hub is really stuck to the knuckle. I guess the advantage of doing it that way is you can press the hub out. Maybe there's a way to do that without cutting the ball joints if there's enough slop in your u-joints? I don't know.

 

[Slow Six]

I'll try to explain. Bear with me if all terms are not right. Remove wheel, brake calipers, ABS sensor etc. Remove the adapter. When all parts are off loosen the four bolts that hold the hub assembly to the axle. Than get an extension approximately 6" to 8" long. Put socket and extension on a loosened bolt, turn steering so that the extension hits against axle housing and than use the power steering to push the assembly out of the housing. Be careful for pinch points (squished fingers hurt). I have always done this alone but help would make it easier. Once it is free remove bolts and carefully pull axle out. It is a bit heavy handling the whole thing but it saves fighting with the bearing. Quite often the bearing gets destroyed when you try to pull it. When reassembling be sure to use anti seize in the appropriate places so that next time is easier. This method has worked very well for me. It has been a while since I have done this so I hope I got you enough info.

 

[BHanna]

Oh, I thought you meant removing hub, axle and knuckle together. I haven't tried that technique because mine came apart pretty easy but I've heard it works.

 

[fire8033]

Update

Just finished changing both front axle u-joints, and all I can say is THANK YOU slow six. We used your process and it was a breeze, started at 9am and was finished by lunch, and thank you slow six and all others.

 

[BSchweers]

Can any body tell me if I have to pop the ball joints to replace the u-joints on the front axle?

Brian

 

[Slow Six]

No, but you do have to remove axles to change ball joints.