Dodge Ball Joint replacement

[H. John Kohl]

I had the ball joints replaced on my 03 4x4. They have to heat the hubs off ruining the speed sensors. The dealership automatically includes the cost of new hubs in the ball joint replacement estimate. So if you need ball joints replaced plan on new hubs too. This triples the cost.
If you dance you have to pay the fiddler.
Cheers,

[bigmurf]

Had my 04 done this past year and there was no problem like this. Had it done by a alignment shop and used NAPA parts (lifetime warranty). Also the ball joints had grease zerks on them. This was the second set in 75,000 miles. The first were under warranty and was done by the dealer at 34,000.

Also replaced the front axle U joints with zerk models too.

[LonnieB]

John,
Some of those dealers just do whatever is easiest, and they will do everything they can to get in your pocket. We have never had to heat one of those hubs to get it off. Some take a little work, but there is a trick for the really tough ones your dealer probably doesn't know. If you loosen the 4 bolts on the back of the hub on a 4x4, start the truck, and turn the wheel so the front of that hub turns in, it will pop the hub loose, and not damage anything.

[sreigle]

Excellent, Lonnie. Thanks.

[clutch]

It is kind of sad when Dodge fixed the weak transmissions in the 2nd gen trucks and then use a weaker ball joint on the 3rd gen trucks. The reason they don't last is because the lower ball joints now carry more of the weight due to the design change.