How many miles on your Ball joints?

[NUKEMAN]

I just turned 70,000 with the factory Ball Joints (and U-Joints) I just checked them yesterday and couldn't find any play and tire wear is great. No drivability issues. I thought this was strange since I have had 35's and 37's on it since new. It has also been lifted for about the last 10k too. I know most of you have had to replace these things very early. Am I just missing something or EXTREMELY lucky? Anyway, how many miles have you guys went on the OEM's?

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I had my upper and lowe ball joints replaced (just beginning to have some play) with HD on my 98 12v 2 wheel @ 90K. I am @ 104K and the tie rod ends have no slop (the last time I greased them) and are original. I am watching them. They are not HD but when the time comes will be replaced with HD. Then I will finally have a Heavy Duty Ram. My towing does not exceed 5K. When I replaced shocks I went with Monroe HD and they have been very good. Not much info here but it is all I got. REGARDS

 

[TylerMartin]

You guys are lucky. I'm on my third set of ball joints and tie rod ends and I only have 50K miles on the truck. I admit I drive some pretty rough roads and use my truck for work but this is a little ridiculous! I have a Lorenz suspension and 35" tires (put on @ 40K). The ball joints (upper and lower) and front axle joints are now all greasable (from Napa) so hopefully that will give me a little more longevity.



T.

 

[nickleinonen]

45,xxx km on my 04. . 99% city driving and 315's under it since new. . front end still feels pretty tight [although i get a clunk every so often from R/front during left turns] and no death wobble experience yet. . [both rear u-joints changed some time ago under warranty]

 

[MMeier]

165k on the originals and appear tight as day one.

 

[jelag]

04 3500 dually pulling a trailer, 235K miles and they were fine at the last tire change.

04. 5 3500 dually light duty 60K miles, and 05 3500 dually light duty 55K miles...



No problem so far...

 

[Prairie Dog]

I've got just over 50K and just put on new tires. Tire place checked and said all was good.

 

[steved]

I have 105k and know the passenger side needs replacing before next inspection. The driver side is still tight.



steved

 

[Walcott]

just replaced upper and lowers at 148,500 mi,4" lift with 35's for 115,000.

 

[mhachez]

52000 miles on mine. Replaced all 4 ball joints,4 tie rods,steering stabilizer,2 axle shaft u-joints and track bar.

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

35,000 And Fine , 35" Tires

 

[jmy]

My 2001 3500 has original ball joints, tie rod end, track bar, ect. at 241K. Front end is still tight and tracks true.

 

[mr.wilson]

Mine were starting to make noise around 100K, replaced them myself in a weekend and all is well in the Heartland.

 

[DerekW]

My ball joint started getting play in them at 48K now at 60k and still going but I will be changing the ball joints some time this month when I go to NC at my old shop I used to work for. But before I make the trip I plan on buying a set off ball joints and getting them cryogenically treated then install them for superior life and strength. While I am at it I may as well send the 3 new u-joints I have to get them treated for upcoming sled pulling and drag racing season.

 

[dan.poitras]

cryogenically treated?

 

[steved]

cryogenically treated?

I was thinking the same thing... how do you do that with a sealed unit with a piece of plastic and sealed with grease????



steved

 

[NUKEMAN]

getting them cryogenically treated then install them for superior life and strength.

Hey now, careful freezing those BALLjoints, sounds painful :-laf



Seriously, what are the benefits and how is it done?

 

[AGrubbs]

Check out This link for some testimonials that one cryo company has on their site.

Here's some info on its use in race engines.



I don't know how well it all works, but I did have a company called 300 below treat 2 of my varmint rifle barreled actions. Didn't seem to help much with

the factory Remington barrels, and they didn't stay on the gun long.

I replaced them with better barrels and did before and after treatment tests on the new barrels. Seemed to make the metal more "dead". In otherwords the groups shot afterward didn't seem to react to the heating of the rifle from shooting the groups. . so the groups seemed 'tighter'...



I don't personally know if it does much for wear, but it wont hurt it I guess.



AG

 

[E7mack96]

I just dropped the truck off at the dealer today. Last night on the way home the truck started making a really loud bearing grinding noise on the driver side front end. It has 92,000 miles. The u-joints are shot on the front axle anyways. Told dealer to fix it all

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

112k on mine, all original except one balljoint replaced when a drunk hit her while

parked. gone thru a few trackbars, but other than that no problems, just had her to the wrench for a checkup. guess I got a good one.