How do I know?

[CDyksman]

I think the ball joints on my pick-em-eup truck are bad. When i turn, at slow speeds, it feels the same as if I had the truck in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement, not as bad, but the same principle. (Its not in 4 wheel :-laf )

anyone tell me for sure? Thanks, Colby.

P. S. Just replaced all U-Joints 2 weeks ago. Oh yeah, truck now has 37,000 miles

 

[CDyksman]

Nobody? Nobody even has an opinion?

 

[BK]

You need to jack up the front end, get the tires off the ground,,, and use all the jack stand you got to get it up there securely. Using a pry bar, attempt to move the tire up - side to side and look for play in the BJs.



You can try, with the wheels on the ground, watch the BJs while turning the steering wheel about 90 degs in each direction, get the tires to wiggle good.



Could the UJ be messed up?

 

[Slow Six]

You said you changed u joints but did you change the axle u joints? They don't last very long.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

After jacking up the front and removing the tires you can measure ball park measure the play with a story pole (I didn't have a mag base and micrometer). Take a stick and mark where the ball joint assembly is at rest and then lift the assembly with a 2x4, tamp bar, pry bar, or what ever and again mark the story pole. You aren't reefing up on the assembly, but measuring the play. Measure the differences between the two lines. I know I'll probably get grief for this shade tree approach, but... .....



Since I no longer have the 04 I can't remember the specs, but they are somewhere in the 3Gen forum. Or someone will post them here in a jiffy.

 

[CDyksman]

No I didn't change the axle joints, only the u-joints on the rear drive shaft. I don't know if the U-joints could be screwed up. I did go out and jack up each side and using the crow bar, was able to move each tire/wheel assembly up and down maybe a 1\32, or 1/64th of an inc, and could see the ball joints moving in the u shaped coupler they are inside of. I called a local supspension shop and they said it most probably was not the ball joints, but was the dreaded "death wobble" caused by the leveling kit, and could be fixed with an alignment. Thoughts?

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

No it definately wasn't the dw; sounds like I'd take my vehicle elsewhere



Fortunately, I've never had it in any of my Dodges. But I know what they are talking about because I have experienced in a duce-and-a-half truck we used to haul hay on a ranch I worked on as a pup.



Believe me, as any of the folks in the special dw club can attest, you would never forget or mistake the dw for anything else (except perhaps an earthquake in progress :-laf ).



I know it will start a war, but (imho) lift/leveling kits, phatty tires (especially BFGs), hanging heavy bling on the front end (all of which contribute to premature wear or change geometry), and worn steering and suspension components start you down the road to dw.



You said you replaced all u-joints -- how about the u-joints in the front axle? Probably not, but it is a possibility, too.

 

[CDyksman]

Hey Ole' Trail Dog, you nailed it. I took it in to the dealership today and they replaced the right front axle U-Joint. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

WoW!



Please let my wife know that I am right for once. :-laf