Re: DML:Replacing Lower Ball Joints

From: Travis Gensch (wtgensch@execpc.com)
Date: Mon Jun 25 2001 - 22:50:53 EDT


Milwaukee, WI. I may be able to have a buddy that will be able to do this
for me. If things do not work out, I would like to talk a little further.
Email me off list at wtgensch@execpc.com

Thanks a bunch,
Travis

""Tom F. Buban"" <biokiller@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:3B37C15C.D0C9C285@ameritech.net...
> Travis-
>
> Where are you located??? I can do this for 150.00 labor at our shop. Its
in
> Joliet, Il
>
> "Gensch, Travis" wrote:
>
> > >> I was just quoted today that the lower ball joints are excessively
worn
> > >and
> > >> need to be replaced. I was quoted $600 to do this. How hard is it
to
> > >> replace these myself and about how much would the parts cost? I have
a
> > 95
> > >> 4x4.
> > >>
> > >> Love the truck, but HATE all the problems.
> > >
> > >I checked out pricing on these parts, for good quality Moog ball joints
> > >- -Lower Ball Joints(2): $100
> > >- -Upper Ball Joints(2): $80
> > >I was told that labor would be right at $275 for the installation of
these
> > >parts. Sounds like $600 is an extremely high price. So, I would say
shop
> > >around and find some place with better prices for installation. My 93
> > >Dakota's ball joints are still fine now at 143,000 miles........what
other
> > >problems do you have with your truck?
> > >Kyle
> > >93 Dakota 4x4 V6
> >
> > Thanks Kyle. I am assuming that you are not doing the labor yourself?
> > Since you are way better at mechanical work that I am, I guess I'll
start
> > looking around at shops. I was hoping that the replacement would be
easy
> > and I could do it myself. Guess not.
> >
> > The problems with the truck include a shredded tranny, new front hub
> > assembly and manifold seal. The plus side is that I had to deal with
bad
> > service for these changes. I was hoping that the front end problems
would
> > be covered under the extended warranty and then come to find that the
cost
> > would be $600 instead of a $100 deductible. I was not very happy. The
truck
> > went in because the tires were wearing funny and I thought it had front
end
> > problems (seems kind of loose and pulling). The Tech had looked at it
and
> > could not find much wrong, other than a little too much play in the ball
> > joints. Would this cause the tire wear problem? I am not sure if it
> > actually is a ball joint or some other problem (like alignment). Is
there a
> > way that I can check to see if it is the ball joints, some other problem
or
> > poor alignment? They told me there is not much to adjust on a 4x4 truck
in
> > the front and that this kind of tire wear happens normally. They
recommend
> > a tire rotation every 6000 miles to help with bad tire wear. The tires
were
> > not wearing much when the tranny was fixed (and I mentioned the pulling,
> > floating front end feeling was starting to occur). It's at most 6000
later
> > and there is noticeable wear. The wear problem seems to be getting
worse.
> > Not sure what I should do next.
> >
> > I have not had nearly as many problems as others on the list, but it
gets
> > aggravating (especially with bad service and getting the run around). I
was
> > thinking the other day that the FAQ should list the problems associated
with
> > each model year of each Dak. That way, when someone shops around for a
new
> > truck they can look to see what they should check for or what problems
they
> > could encounter. I don't mean if one person has a problem, that it
should
> > be one the list. It would contain recurring problems, like the dreaded
> > pinging motor. I know when shopping around, I would definitely print
this
> > list out and take it along. It may be something already on the FAQ, but
I
> > thought I would mention it just in case it was not there.
> >
> > Travis
>



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