ball joint help

[andrew93]

I have recently purchased a large quantity of craftsman tools and this as inspired me to tackle some of the problems that have been nagging me and my 93 4x4 dakota. I am pretty sure the ball joints are shot because I get a loud clunking, thuding, grinding noise when I turn my truck sometimes. I am curious if anyone can give me a link to a site that shows the steps involved. Also, what tools do I need for this project and where can I buy MOOG ball joints?

[Lesley]

Hey Andrew. Do a ball joints search on dodgedakotas, someone there posted a link with pictures and step by step instructions. I know they had to rent a ball joint press. I got my moogs at the local automotive parts store.

[tobs440]

clunking, thuding, grinding noise when I turn my truck sometimes

now you say this are you sure it is your ball joints, as you say it is a 4x4? while you are in there you might as well do your u-joints in the front axle....otc makes a press that you can use for your b joints and u joints.... and like lesley said i am pretty sure it is napa that sells moog stuff

[Lesley]

Andrew, I just heard from a fellow dak owner, who got his from rockauto.com. They were around $40 each. The part numbers are:
Upper - K7242
Lower- K7241

thnx to Brandon

[andrew93]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I assume I will need a ball joint seperator? That thing that looks like a pickle fork, right?

Call me dumb, but I wasnt aware of any u-joints on my 4x4 besides the front and rear drive shafts. How can I find all my other u-joints and how hard are they to replace?

[bcgrown]

Hey tobs, you are going to be looking for an awfuly long time before you find any U-joints in the front axle of a dakota, there arn't any. Its an IFS that uses constant velocity joint driveshafts that go from the front axle housing to the wheels.

[smokem]

andrew 93, bcgrown is correct. if its a 4x4 it has cv joints which will cause grinding and clunking noises in the front end, but if it is the balljoints, i believe the upper ones actually have threads on them and thread into the upper control arm. there is a special socket just for this.



95 dakota slt 5.2, cam , headers, magnum performance stage III tb, mp computer, k&n, 2.5 " duals, flow pros.

[smokem]

andrew93, your local uap/napa dealer should carry moog balljoints.

[andrew93]

Thanks everyone

[tobs440]

i will apoligize now i was thinking straight front axles.... anyway... the new mopars do not screw in that i know of i wil have to doa alittle more research for ya.... you will need a press it looks like a big c-clamp with some fittings that you can fit around the ball joint and the control arm.... you should be able to knock the lower one out (down) but the upper one is pressed down into place because it is the load carrier if youd like i can get the manual at work and scan some pages for ya...

[andrew93]

wow tobs, that would be awsome of you. What other info do you need from me?

[tobs440]

it is a 93 4x4 correct??? i wil bring home the manual if i can find it...i will do some research....email me.. tobs440@cs.com

[dodgeboy93]

dang it..I wish i would of read this thread when it was first posted. I tried to lower my truck today assuming the balljoints were the screw type. I got everything apart and welp..as you all know they are pressed in..Doh!.and a balljoint press is one thing I dont have. Gonna go out and pick one up along with all new ball joints and attempt this again next weekend/.................

[stoner]

Hey dodgeboy93, what did your last post say.......all I saw is that awsome avitar....just kidding. Now my wife thinks I'm gonna get her to pose.....hahahahahahahaha....

[Lesley]

I liked the wrestler dude better.

[dodgeboy93]

hahaha...gotta to have something to stand out "she" is temporary. Once I get my trucks altitude adjusted and some paint on her, she will be my avitar. I had a bad day yesterday. Not only didnt I get it lowered, but now it wont run. I traced out all the wire'n and troubleshot it for a while and its the pcm. Something burnt up inside it.....ah well she will be lower faster and stronger here soon

[dodgeboy93]

oh and lesley. You can see my old avitar on Smackdown thursday nights at 8 or on RAW monday nights...maybe be different up there in the great white north though.

[tobs440]

lelsey, we are all bummed out you dont like the woman better... jj
that is what you get greg.. i guess i did know a few more things then greg conner...

[dodgeboy93]

yea yea....just wait till summer..You'll know what my tailgate looks like too

[blackdak00]

let the smack talk begin...lol


Lesley...I vote for the girl....sorry