I just had to have the lower ball joints on my 98 changed and the way they
showed me they were bad was to jack the wheels off ground about 1" and then
try to pick up the tire with a pry bar and watch the lower ball joints for
movement. On mine the tire would go up and the lower suspension arm would
not move.
Roderic Vaughan
Lafayette, LA.
98 4x4 CC 5.2L
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET]On Behalf Of Miles D. Oliver
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 12:49 PM
To: dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET
Subject: DML: Ball joints and exhaust leaks..
Glad I came across this list. I've been looking for other Dakota owners to
converse with. Hopefully someone else has come across some info that they
can pass along to me.
I have a '98 Dakota 2x4 SLT extended cab with a the V6 and auto, purchased
in Virginia.
So far I have 57,000 trouble-free miles on the vehicle but need to ask a few
questions.
1. I have read from the archive about front ball joints going bad, most
before 50,000 miles. Im now starting to hear a little 'clunking' noise
coming from the left front in turns. The front wheel assembly seems tight
and when I jack up the front I cannot feel any 'shimmy' or looseness in the
front end.
Could someone offer some easy advice to check on the ball joints for wear
and possible replacement?
2. I've noticed when I start the vehicle up that I head what appears to be
an exhaust leak coming from the right front manifold (I do not have headers
on the truck) . I 've had exhaust leaks and cracked manifolds from other
vehicles I've owned and the sound I hear is that tell tale 'ticking sound'
that tells me that this is what I've got. I place a rag over the exhaust
pipe when I start the truck to see of the leak is more pronounced and I can
hear no exhaust escaping from the system. When the truck gets warm the
'ticking' is less pronounced but I can still hear it a little at idle.
Do the manifold bolts on the V6 'back out' a little, causing this
somewhat and the heat expansion is closing the 'gap' ??
Any and all help on these matters would be greatly appreciated.
Miles D. Oliver
"Bluegrass, Finger Pickin' good"
http://www.mmoliver.org
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