Lubed for Life Front End?

[bigfig]

We've got 27,000 miles on the truck so far and we'd love to grease the front end but there are no grease fittings, we were wondering how long this front end will go before it needs to be replaced, approximately? About how expensive will this be? I heard some people drill their own grease fittings, don't know if that's a good idea or not as it might put metal particles in the joints.

Your comments are appreciated.

 

[tmacc]

Bigfig,

They're probably already worn out. At 26k my track bar and drag link tie rod end had to be replaced under warranty. I drilled them for grease fitting and they are worn out again. In fact, all of the front end parts have slop in them now at 32k. I looked at them this week while someone else turned the steering wheel back and forth and every tie rod end had play including the new track bar. I'm due to see the dealer this week for them to inspect it. The kicker is that DC allows . 070" of play and the dealer used that excuse not to replace tie rods ends in the past. We'll see if there is more that that now. Once it's out of warranty I'll get some quality after market parts. That's what the this dealer does once a truck is out of warranty.

Sorry to be so long winded, but I'm a little pi$$ed at DC right now for such poor mfrg tolerance.

Tom

 

[EMDDIESEL]

is the Ram an expensive front end to replace as far as parts?

 

[JJW_ND]

Older ones must have been better!

I have 197K on the factory front end of a 96. Just have an alignment shop check everything out and track bar is starting to show some play but very minimal. Ball joints (these have no grease zerks) are solid. Only replace one U-joint (front driver) in all those miles and they have no zerks either.



I am sure is is where and how you use your truck will determine the life you get out of its parts.



Mine is mostly highway miles, but lots of hard pulling and rough roads.



jjw

ND

 

[tmacc]

Older ones MUST have been better.....

I drive a mix of highway and two lane. Never been off road. Rarely do any towing. I do have an average of about 1000lb. of tools and contractor's cap on the truck.

The service manager said that even new parts have some slop in them. That's why they go after market once a truck is out of warranty.

What's so frusrating is the clunking feeling coming through the steering wheel. If they tell me this is in tolerance this time,... . well I won't go postal, but I will be very upset.

 

[mfburns]

I just had the upper and lower ball joints replaced at 110,000 miles. Front end was sloppy and inspection time came around. Now I can grease the ball joints.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by mfburns

Now I can grease the ball joints. [/B]

Where did you find greaseable ball joints? Do you have the part numbers? My truck has 70k miles and the boots on the joints are toast. I'm sure the joints won't be far behind.

 

[mfburns]

I had the mechanic replace them. I left the truck for its annual inspection and had to get the brake pads and the Ball Joints replaced. Not sure where he gets them but the part is

MOOG K7205T Lower

MOOG K7206T Upper

I would imagine NAPA should have them or can get them. I looked on the net, Lyocs search and found them on sale (of course) if you plan to do this yourself.

 

[Bill Lins]

Thanks!

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Ball Joints

Bill Lins,



Maybe this will help: "I didn't have any trouble finding the front ball joints. Top one is much smaller than the bottom one. NAPA had them in stock and I assume Car Quest did also. Napa P/N 10339 and 104149, $30. 88 and 31. 99 respectively. " (Mine is a '95)



I copied the above quote from a thread I posted on July 13th. I replaced all four of mine and my u-joints at the same time. Search on the date, my name, or u-joints and you'll find two threads. I wrote some lengthy instructions if you should need them.



Bill L.

 

[Bill Lins]

Thanks anyway, but mine is 2WD. I had no problem finding the sealed ball joints, but I want the good old-fashioned kind with the zerks already in them.

 

[SteveH]

Re: Older ones MUST have been better.....

Originally posted by tmacc

I drive a mix of highway and two lane. Never been off road. Rarely do any towing. I do have an average of about 1000lb. of tools and contractor's cap on the truck.

The service manager said that even new parts have some slop in them. That's why they go after market once a truck is out of warranty.

What's so frusrating is the clunking feeling coming through the steering wheel. If they tell me this is in tolerance this time,... . well I won't go postal, but I will be very upset.

Hi tmmac,

The clunking you feel in the steering wheel may also be coming from the lower, mid, and upper steering column itself. I have a 97 and the lower steering column has been replaced twice, the mid has been replaced twice and the first part down from the steering wheel itself has been replaced once. I would get excess play in the side-to-side movement in the steering wheel and it would have a clunking sound. The replacements seem to be just as much garbage as the originals as quick as they wear out.

Steve H

 

[Whitmore]

I drilled and tapped all of mine to accept zerts and its great, ther was a thread about a year ago on the procedure, do a search on it and it will be well worth your time to bomb the joints baby. Kevin

 

[tmacc]

Steve H,

Thanks, I'll check the steering shafts too. I have checked all of the tie rod, drag link ends and they are all loose w/a capital "L". When I check them w/ the truck on the ground I can feel play in each one. When I took it to the dealer this week, Some kid tech tried to tell me an alignment would take care of it. What an idiot! I talked to the service mgr and we came to the conclusion that they were checking the truck on the lift so it didn't feel that loose. DUH! So... the next time, which will be the third time, They will check it w/ the truck on the ground and have someone turn the wheel while a more experienced tech feels each joint. Criminey, I have to diagnose the thing for them too.



Oh yeah, another 5 star dealer.

Tom

 

[Chaw]

Checked my front end yesterday and everything needs to be replaced. Needless to say the factory parts are junk. I am going to replace all tie rods, ends, steer stabilizer, and the track bar. The truck has 38K.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Front end parts

Have had to systematically replace front end parts on my truck. Have been using NAPA parts. Their warranty is for the lifetime of the truck... . Parts are better and so is the warranty. As of now NAPA warrants my front brake pads, all 4 shocks, drag link and tie rod!!!