2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Upper ball joints

[Kalaehina]

Whew, my truck is sure keeping me busy, but I don't mind cuz I'm learning new things all the way. Anyway, now I need to change both upper ball joints. I did a search but could use more info, what is involved with this procedure? Major PITA? What tools will I need? Any tricks or tips I should know? The more info I can get the better. Thanks!

 

[Rman]

if your getting that far in there I'd be replacing more than just that. It's not hard just time consuming. I've never done a dodge, but have done enough old Ford's in my time to know I hate it.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Try for replacements that permit greasing the balljoints to allow a longer time between replacements...

 

[Kalaehina]

Actually I'm probably going to have a shop do it instead, probably all 4. I don't think I have the resources and time to do this in the near future (been on vacation all this week and gotta go back to work monday). We'll see what happens.

 

[dresslered]

I just had a truck shop replace all of mine with Moog. Suppose to be the solution to the lousy DC components.



P. S. Where does one vacation when you live in Hawaii?

 

[tcourse]

Where does one vacation when you live in Hawaii?

Maybe you could just buy me a plane ticket and put me up, and I would do them while you go back to work

 

[Jeff Knight]

Hey Dave, Good Question?????

 

[Kalaehina]

Hmmm, darn good question, cuz I don't even have an answer. I'm one of those guys that my work place has to tell me to go on vacation or I'm going to lose it, so I just spend it working on my truck.

 

[Kalaehina]

BTW, truck has a July 16th appointment at 4wheel parts, $80 a ball joint, so I'm going to have them do all 4.

 

[RT66DOC]

80 bucks each? Sounds like a deal to me. Is that labor only? Is that a reasonable, average charge for that job? Does Moog make greaseable balljoints?

 

[dresslered]

Wow, that is a great price. Mine were $120/ea for the Moog plus labor. $$$

 

[ata]

Where does one go on Vacation in Hawaii. The other side of the Island. If you live on the West side it's Dry and Sunny. If you live on the East side it's cloudy and wet. But at least both sides are warm.

 

[Kalaehina]

Exactly, I live on the desert side, not used to all the rain, and it does feel like a whole different place when I'm on the opposite side. As far as my ball joints go, sorry I forgot to mention I have to get the parts first, so it comes out to about $107 each ($80+$27 for each ball joint).

 

[dresslered]

I am still impressed with your prices! Are you sure you were quoted correctly? Here's my breakdown on the work that I had done:



Here's the break down:

Track rod (Moog): $276. 04

Upper ball joints (Moog): $260. 00

Lower ball joints (Moog): $260. 00

Left connecting tie rod (Moog): $77. 00

Right connecting tie rod (OEM is the only thing available): $143. 00

Right tie rod at Pitman arm (Moog): $58. 75

Labor: $$722. 50

Alignment: $92. 95



GRAND TOTAL: $1978. 91





Then I added a Rancho RS5404 dampener and a DSS steering stabilizer.

 

[Kalaehina]

You know I don't even know what brand the ball joints are, I got them through a friend of mine who works in our parts dept. so it is a little less then what I would pay without his help. I noticed your alignment is $92. 95, my alignments usually cost no more then $60, and my Moog track bar that I got 2 years ago was $150. 00. I'll let you guys know if that's all it comes out to and what parts were used.

 

[Kalaehina]

Does Piers still sell the DSS?

 

[dresslered]

I got my DSS from Rip up in Oregon. It was on my doorstep 2-days later. Great service!

 

[JDixon]

I just had a 2 inch spacer kit and larger tires put on my truck this week. The shop that did it told me that my ball joints needed to be replaced. They are trustworthy guys and recommended that I take it to the dealership to see if they would do it under warranty. My truck has just under 32K miles. I talked to the sales manager (family friend) and a service advisor at the dealership. They both told me they "should" cover it even though I lifted the truck. I'm taking it in one day this week for the official diagnosis.



My concern is that I might go through this again in another couple of years. I don't know anything about ball joints, so I could use some help with this. I have no problem buying more expensive aftermarket parts if they will get the job done better. I would like to get some opinions on the Moog parts as well as the DSS steering stabilizer. I've never been happy with the steering in the truck, but I used to drive Jeeps so I'm kinda spoiled when it comes to steering.



Obviously, I will wait to see what the dealership says about the warranty coverage and what parts need to be replaced. I would like to be a little more informed when I talk to them. I will let them replace whatever they want under warranty.



Thanks in advance.

 

[dresslered]

My ball joints were completely worn out at 63,000 miles and probably long before that due to my extreme tire wear problems (alignment always checked out fine). From what I have learned, the OEM ball joints, track rod, connecting rods, etc. are all junk. I have heard of others just skipping the warrantee step just so they can get the superior components. I have heard a lot of good reports on the Moog, and the upper ball joints are greasable, which should be a big improvement by itself.



It's hard to say whether you should or should not use the warrantee to get yours replaced (at least the price would be right). But chances are, you'll be in the same boat in a couple of years. I wonder if your dealership would give you a warrantee on just the labor if you supplied the aftermarket parts?



I added the DSS as a precautionary item. I have heard of too many steering boxes going out, and the DSS does remove much of the stresses that the box has to take.

 

[Kalaehina]

If I have ANY $ left after this weeks ball joint swap I'm ordering a DSS from Rip, WOW! amazing price delivered to my door (and a far away door it is), I had to double check with Rip if that was product plus shipping or just shipping charge he sent me.