Just got my 98 Durango back from the dealer on Friday ..they changed out
both lower joints and both upper joints,arms and bushings the truck only had
38,000 miles on it ..but they did it under warranty ....I was happy ..
----- Original Message -----
From: Roderic Vaughan <Rodeaux@prodigy.net>
To: Dakota Mailing List <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 4:00 PM
Subject: DML: Ball joints and exhaust leaks..
> 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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