Moog ball joints unavailable for 2001 CTD?

[Briar Hopper]

I visited a front end/suspension repair shop this past Friday, while in Indiana for the weekend. My right front tire is feathering the tread, I knew I had an alignment problem.

This shop has an excellent reputation, and it was obvious the shop foreman knew his stuff, after only a few minutes spent talking to him.

The diagnosis on my truck is the track bar and the upper right ball joint are bad. The track bar I can fix myself, with a Luke's Link, or a new DT track bar. (he was very interested in hearing about Luke's Link, I went online in his offce, and showed him. His attitude alone would have been impressive enough, it was really great finding a SMART mechanic willing to listen & learn)

BUT... . the ball joints, according to his catalog /parts source, are unavailable for my 2001 4x4 3500 anywhere but at a Dodge dealer, and for $216 each... . He did have Moog parts numbers for older models of Dodge Rams, but insisted that the 2001 was certain to be different...

This is unacceptable to me!!! I can't see replacing junk with $200 worth of junk.

Has anyone with a 2000, or 2001 , replaced the ball joints on their truck? Please, I need Moog or NAPA part numbers, if so. I don't want Dodge parts, even if I can get them cheaper.

 

[The patriot]

I went to my local front end place, my lower right bj, track bar, and pittman arm are shot. Well... actually each one has a little play, so all together = a lot.



I'd call the local DC dealer, and ask them if they could cross reference part #'s for you. If the DC stuff fits, so will the Napa, Moog etc. etc. $216. 00 sounds like the price I got for my 98, so I'd guess theyre the same.

I remember seeing somewhere that some were welded in, and some screwed in. I dont remember if this was for the Dodge trucks though.

Eric

 

[Briar Hopper]

Thanks, Eric, I hadn't thought of trying that... as for YOUR truck, did you run a search on "ball joints" on this site? Plenty of interesting reading. And the Luke's Link looks easy enough to do, you could save a bundle doing it yourself. It'll work for the track bar, AND the tie rod ends... www.lukeslink.com

 

[The patriot]

The lukes definetly looked like a quality piece. When I called I asked for a price. They told me they'd send me a brochure.

Problem is, there aint no price in the dam brochure either.

I'm not at that point in my life that I can buy stuff w/o knowing what it costs, fact of the matter is, that's the most important part right now!!

My truck isnt lifted, so I'll probibally go with the NAPA part.

Eric

 

[ftb87]

Brian,



You might also want to try Ingle Products. Part number 615. Their number is 800-641-9795. They also make an adjustable ball joint (which I have on my truck).



Frank

 

[mediccummin]

adjustable ball joints

Thanks ftb since the install of my adjustable ball joints my steering and tire wear has improved. Hey Briar if your truck is a 2001 is'nt it under waranty still. The dealer with a year long battle finally did mine with the adjustable's ftb talked about... Well good luck, and by the way the Ingle ball joints are cheaper than DC's... ...

 

[Briar Hopper]

Thanks guys. Warranty? It's out of warranty, has 65K miles on it. Besides, I wouldn't take it to the dealers around here to have hubcaps installed. Any dealership work, I'm looking at a trip several states away just to find skilled mechanics.

That's okay. The $1600 I saved by not getting the extended warranty (which cost them $250, by the way) hasn't been used up yet. Getting there though. The steering on this truck is an absolute mess, it also needs a steering gear box.

 

[Hammer]

2000 & 2001 balls joints

Briar Hopper,,Diesel Dale had a 2000 with a similar problem,had a truck he was selling(40,000 miles) out here to a gentleman and while prepping it it was found to have all 4 ball joints bad,,After an exhaustive search thru his local parts houses and thru our dealer connection he found that the 2000 and up ball joints were not available period,,He himself did not tlike the idea of using DC's overpriced and already proven unreliable parts,,Shame of it is the 2000 and up ball joints are nearly twice as much as the 1999 and older from DC,,Hope your search can turn something up because we could not find any other options for the newer trucks.....

 

[Briar Hopper]

Called that number, they are wholesale distributors only,they referred me to McGee - Paris Rubber in Dallas, Texas. 1-214-689-0400.

And this company is charging full retail of $132. 38 for the ball joint.

Part number 615 IS , repeat, IS , the adjustable ball joint.

Called Luke's Link. The price is $46. Got one on the way.

 

[mediccummin]

adjustable ball joints and dealer

I understand what your saying about the dealers they all suck, yes thats what I said. If you do install the adjustable ball joints and take it to a real alignment shop ( not the dealer), I think you will find some of your steering problems gone. I still can't understand why DC does'nt install them from factory. But like I said alot cheaper eh. Well good luck ... ... ... ... ...

 

[Dave Fleming]

Just had, am disabled so can't do work myself, Lukes Link ($55)USD to the door, Borgenson steering shaft $255, Bilstein shocks at $70 and a steering box adjustment done at National Spring here in the San Diego area. It, a 1995 3500 SLT, Oct. of 1994 Mexico build, now rides like it should have right from the dealer. 2 Track Bars under warranty both factory and extended and dealer wanted $230 USD for a factory steering shaft!

Now all warranties are finished and can go my own way! Wednesday get the damn fuel return line fixed at Cummins Cal Pacific in El Cajon not cheap but from what I read it is a bear to do.

As I have commented before, I view this truck as a project not a finished product off the factory floor.

 

[Briar Hopper]

gee, thanks, Doc

This thread got moved to Products forum, but in my opinion, despite the title, it's not about Moog ball joints or any other brand. It's about getting help for the steering/suspension/front end on a 2001, and lack of parts availability to fix such...

Doc, I'm going to move your trailer, with you in it, at 3:00 a. m. next time we go camping. Park you right between the hippie bus/all-night party, and the talkative elderly couple with 3 dogs that bark all night.

 

[Briar Hopper]

TTT

Back to the top yet again... before I let it suffer a slow, lingering banishment to the archives, thanks to my good buddy Doc Tinker the forum moderator who stuck it over here in Products where people are only interested in go-fast goodies or look-great add-ons..... not repair parts for real problems.

 

[JHansen]

Good thread....

I don't have a need for ball joints YET-note the emphasis on yet . However with the type of service my truck sees and the 315's on it, coupled with the fact that most of the front end stuff have no grease fittings mad: ) it's a foregone conclusion that I will be in the market for some suspension parts in the near future. In a previous life I was a jobber automotive partsman-we sold Moog and it would be my first choice for my own vehicle. Hopefully they will release part #'s for some of this stuff in the near future-there's gotta be a market for it with the failure rates that people are seeing.



It sounds like the Ingle joints are doing the job for those of you that have them installed. Are they greaseable as well?



And has anyone tried TRW to see if they have something available? Or with all the consolidation over the last few years in the aftermarket are TRW and Moog one and the same now?



I'll have to do some digging I guess-if I remember the next time I get to civilization!



Jason

 

[ftb87]

The Ingle ball joints do have the grease zerks.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Gotta second that, Jason, I'm mighty partial to Moog quality myself. Good stuff. But somebody somewhere, dropped the ball... intentionally, or otherwise. It's one of those things where you're forced to go to the dealer for parts. Well, sorry, I'd almost trade it in first ! Or park it for a few months. But since the Ingle is available, I'll go that route.

Anybody think it's okay to just replace the one bad one for now, or do I need to do them ALL, all 4 ?

 

[mediccummin]

only one

The dealer only replaced one on my truck to get the steering right, for once. But if your gonna do it yourself you might as well do them all. Or you might be back again soon, if you know what I mean... ... Later... ... ...

 

[Doc Tinker]

Briar - According to the Product/Accessories Form description ("The place to discuss products and accessories you use, recommend or are looking for your Cummins Dodge. ") I believe I moved your thread appropriately. You may punch me, the next time we meet, but you better not try moving the trailer, unless you don't mind dealing with a mad hornet (Mrs Doc) in the middle of the night Besides, I always seem to get a spot right where you say you'll move me, so any move would be a step up



If you were looking for information on how to install, repair or adjust those parts, I would have left it alone. So next time word it differently so I can better understand your intentions.



Doc

 

[Briar Hopper]

I don't punch out family, Doc, so you're safe from me. Besides after all the fun you're having with skunks lately, I guess I better offer words of encouragement and support rather than criticism!

You're doing a great job on here, and with the GLTDR! We're all indebted to you. I'm still gonna getcha back, though.

 

[JHansen]

So while we're on this subject....

What about replacement greaseable tie rod ends? I know there was a post on here a while back about drilling the stockers for zerks... however I have 45000 km on the truck now (around 27000 miles) so I'm thinking I've already done damage to them . What a PITA not having zerks-I was used to greasing a Class 8 once a week so it's not like I don't know how to use a grease gun . Guess they wouldn't get to sell any replacements if you could actually grease the stockers...



Tried the Moog online catalog-comes back as no-go but I'm not sure how up to date it is. I guess I should hit a jobber store this week to see if they have any new releases.



Jason