What's the deal with bearings and ball joints on 3rd gen 4wd?

[hobigusn]

So i've heard mixed info on how often these parts wear out and how hard it is for a DIY guy to change. Do other steering parts have problems as well? What has been your experiences?

 

[Dieselnerd]

Reading TDR is kind of like reading a medical manual. It won't be long and you'll start to think you have all sorts of disease.



Some have had bad ball joints, I haven't. No bad bearings either although you were not specific about what bearings you meant.



Loose steering was a concern on early Dodges, the trackbar on 4x4's was the issue. New ones are much improved.



For the most part, these are rugged trucks. You seldom hear about things going well because it's human nature to talk about problems.



I'm as guilty as others. When I read about a new problem I always run out and check my truck. I will say my 3rd gen is one of the best trucks I've ever owned. I said the same about my 2nd gen but it had quite a few minor problems that were easily fixed using tricks invented by TDR members.

 

[BigRedRam]

Reading

For the most part, these are rugged trucks. You seldom hear about things going well because it's human nature to talk about problems.



I'm as guilty as others. When I read about a new problem I always run out and check my truck. I will say my 3rd gen is one of the best trucks I've ever owned. I said the same about my 2nd gen but it had quite a few minor problems that were easily fixed using tricks invented by TDR members.

Im in full areement with Dieselnerd. At this point Im rapidly closing in on 200,000 miles and have done a lot of upgrades. However, I no longer have a truck payment and my truck is close to being as good as new, possibly better than new except for some cosmetic items.



I have no intention of replacing the truck any time soon. To anyone that drives a normal vehicle, the truck is assumed to be new and looks impressive.

 

[hobigusn]

Reading TDR is kind of like reading a medical manual. It won't be long and you'll start to think you have all sorts of disease.



Some have had bad ball joints, I haven't. No bad bearings either although you were not specific about what bearings you meant.



Loose steering was a concern on early Dodges, the trackbar on 4x4's was the issue. New ones are much improved.



For the most part, these are rugged trucks. You seldom hear about things going well because it's human nature to talk about problems.



I'm as guilty as others. When I read about a new problem I always run out and check my truck. I will say my 3rd gen is one of the best trucks I've ever owned. I said the same about my 2nd gen but it had quite a few minor problems that were easily fixed using tricks invented by TDR members.

Thanks for the input. i meant the wheel bearing. Yes it's true that people only want talk about the negative. That's why when looking for info on TDR I get discouraged sometimes.

 

[Grizzly]

I've not had one problem with my 05, 3500 DRW 4WD not did I with my 95, 3500 DRW 4WD in the 10 years I owned it. Knock on wood!

 

[Bouma]

ball joints

I would agree these are tough trucks, but I have had a run of bad luck with ball joints. My personal truck in an 06 with 63,000 miles, I just replaced all four ball joints. I thought this was early but it is what it is. My company truck is a 09 with 20,000 miles on it, the dealer just replaced all four ball joints. Never have had issues but 2 trucks in 2 weeks all four ball joints on each one makes you wonder. Not sure why the 09 failed. The dealer said this is very common

 

[Grayhackle]

Last week I had the upper and lower ball joints replaced by dealer, drivers side only. they were pretty loose.
I am thinking about greasing them with the needle type grease fitting.
Also dealer replaced rear main oil seal. Now that would be unusual I think.

34, 000 miles. Last year of warranty.

 

[BHanna]

The ball joints are just not a very good design. Apparently the lowers carry all the load but are only slightly larger than those used on a Jeep (where all 4 carry the load). I recommend buying the tools to change them yourself. The first time may cost you about the same as taking it to a shop but after that, all you have to do is buy new joints.

 

[hobigusn]

The ball joints are just not a very good design. Apparently the lowers carry all the load but are only slightly larger than those used on a Jeep (where all 4 carry the load). I recommend buying the tools to change them yourself. The first time may cost you about the same as taking it to a shop but after that, all you have to do is buy new joints.

How often do ball joints have to be replaced, about? Does anyone know anything about Carli balljoints?

 

[BHanna]

I had death wobble at 40K on my first set. Probably should have changed them a little sooner. I'm at 70K now and will probably need to change the 2nd set pretty soon.

 

[jelag]

I've got 4 trucks, all have over 100K miles with one close to 300K... we've never installed a ball joint, we grease the bearing's when its apart for a brake inspection...

We'll check the ball joints when we see an issue with tire wear... .

We have had to put u-joints in the front of all these trucks...

 

[sag2]

It's really interesting sitting back and reading about all the bad ball joints. I have only replaced a couple, and yet some guys say theirs are always worn out. I have to ask myself, why would one truck "wear out" multiple joints, and another identical truck goes 200,000 with the same set? I rarely see any tires with uneven wear (assuming they get rotated) and most guys get at least 50,000 out of the OEM tires. My neighbor got 80,000 out of his first set.

I have never seen anyone PROPERLY diagnose a bad (or good) ball joint. To do so requires two measurements with a dial indicator for both the upper and lower joints. The spec for the lower is 0. 090, and when prying on the joint that much play looks like an inch!

So my guess is the vast majority of joints that get replaced are not really bad. They get the old "wiggle" test of the tire, and if it wiggles it gets replaced.

 

[macdaddy]

Bite my tongue...

I check my ball joints usually every 10K while lubing my front drive shaft. There fine. The truck now has 90K. The bearings are really working well too. It does seem that the people that are altering their trucks away from stock in any form be it lift kits, and or just replacing the stock tires with larger rims and tires seem to have some issue at one point or another.



From my understanding, any thing that increases leverage on front end components make them prone to premature failure.



Mac

 

[steved]

I have to ask myself, why would one truck "wear out" multiple joints, and another identical truck goes 200,000 with the same set?



So my guess is the vast majority of joints that get replaced are not really bad. They get the old "wiggle" test of the tire, and if it wiggles it gets replaced.

I agree. I have thought the same thing... joints being replaced when they didn't need it.



I got 180k on my OE balljoints, albeit mostly highway. I preemptively replaced them, although they didn't need it. Both my joints and bearings had play in them the day I drove it home, both "acceptable" by the dodge garage.

 

[BHanna]

I am guilty of the lift kit and big tires. I'm sure you guys are right. That probably has plenty to do with my ball joints wearing out sooner than they should.

 

[steved]

I think it has more to do with offset wheels than lift or big tires... I ran 35s on stock wheels for several thousand miles and it never caused any issue, but those wheels were the "engineered" offset.

 

[Tinman]

Some info and opinions to answer the question.

Bottom of page (Dan the Gear Man section):
QUAD 4 x4

Dodge Ram Suspension News and Latest Company Updates from Carli Suspension, Inc: September 2009

 

[stumphumper]

My truck is getting close to 200k and has never needed a front line adjustment. My ball joint seals would not hold grease about 100k and so I replaced them with an after market "Energy Suspension" seals. These blew out real quick and I had to put tie raps on to hold the grease. The OEM's had a metal outer cup that supported the seal but the dealer could not find them as a replacement item. They said I would have to replace the complete arms in order to fix it. I have been greaseing more often till I can find a better after market product.

Now my right front tire is wearing heavy on the outer edge and it's pulling to the right. Time for new tires so it's back to researching the route problem of fixing the ball joint/seal problem before i seak out it's FIRST FRONT END ALIGNMENT. I am happy that it has been a great front end for me over the years and now it is time to $$ back. I will keep an eye on this thread in hopes that someone out there has has good luck with finding a good replacement product that will keep the grease contained around the ball joints.

 

[hsmith]

In reference to the u-joint on front axle, I am working on an '07 with 57k on the clock. The left axle joint is about to fly apart. Only problem is I am not able to get the hub assembly apart. It is rusted in the spindle. Have been massaging it and spraying different penetrants for three days. Hasn. t budged. Today I put it back together with the hub assembly bolts a little loose and went for a drive. Hope it broke it a bit loose. This trick worked years ago on the type 1 VW's rear drums.

Not giving up on this one as it needs to leave for Colorado in a week or so.

Other that heat, any suggestions?

 

[DaveHess]

I have 58K on the clock of my '03 and they are all paved/highway miles. Not an ounce of problems. Knock on wood