Dodge Dakota Ball Joints

super99 · Jan 7, 2009

The ball joints need replaced on my 97 Dakota, v-6, 2wd, 5 speed manual. Do you need any special tools to replace them? I don't want to spend the $$$ to have them replaced at the repair shop, just wondering what kind of job I'm getting into. Will the front end need aligned after changing them? Supposed to warm up some and I'm off work Friday so that would give me 2 days to replace them. Thanks, Chris

bradk · Jan 7, 2009

Yes,you'll need a ball joint press.No way around it.Auto Zone or O'Reily's might have the tool set to rent/borrow if you buy their parts.

Alignment is also necessary after completion.

Not a bad job at all if you have the press.

Roy in georgia · Jan 7, 2009

you will need the press with all the adapters (usually in a separate kit) but Harbor Freight has that stuff reasonable or maybe you can rent them from the local parts store. Sounds like your first time with ball joints I suggest getting the repair manual a good investment at $20

John B. · Jan 7, 2009

When I worked at the local bus company we pressed them in and out our selves with a small tool from "ATD bought at our local Napa dealer. Once you do a couple they get easier but you may need a big snap ring pliers. We needed the pliers for Ford but I don't know about Dodge. May need a tie rod seperator tool (pickle fork) also to take the steering linkage loose. By the time you buy the tools you could pay someone to put them in. You'll have to take the brake caliper off most likely so you can take the hub assembly along with the ball joints off and put it on the work bench. This makes it a lot easier to work on.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 8, 2009

You may want to take it to Dodge and have the control arms checked for cracks. There was some kind of recall on those that the arms were cracking and breaking sending the front wheel down the highway in front of you.

EddiePetty · Jan 8, 2009

Super,
I just replaced the lowers on my "99, 2WD.
The originals are riveted in place. It is not practical to press the rivets out as they are in double shear between the pair of control arm flanges. I got mine out by cutting the rivet heads off with a pneumatic angle grinder, drilling the body of the rivet out and finally drifting the rivet remains out. The job will go much easier if you remove the complete brake and rotor assembly. The replacements are then bolted in. My allignment changed only in toe: caster and camber were not affected.
Ed in "ol Virginny

IntenseDak · Mar 7, 2009

You DO NOT need a press. All four are riveted in. That is where it will get expensive, but your local store will have the ball joints for about $35-40 ea. Advance Auto has the 1yr ones for half that. As for the recall. It was for the ball joints ONLY, not the control arms and it was for '99-up 4X4 only. Dodge knows that they had a serious geometry problem with the front end and that is why the ball joints wear out in half the time. All Dakotas and Durangos from 1997-2004 are effected, but it would have been disastrous for Dodge to recall all of them.

Iowa_tire_guy · Mar 7, 2009

Well Chris, I was going to tell you that you could borrow mine but sounds like you don't need one. Good luck.

Dodge Dakota Ball Joints

super99

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bradk

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Roy in georgia

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John B.

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Anonymous-0

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EddiePetty

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IntenseDak

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Iowa_tire_guy

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