Dan I assuming your truck is a 2wd.My experience with these noises and
knocks is as follows:If you feel it in your wheel it's your steering
coupler.If you just hear it when you turn it could be one of your coil
spring insulators at top of spring.On my 92 2wd I went through the trouble
of replacing all 4 myself to find the noise still there.Took it to the
dealer told them what I did to get the answer of (I have never heard of ball
joints going on a Dakota)When the tech took my right coil spring out he
found that the insulator had slipped off the spring and was then metal on
metal causing noise when I turned left.He reset the insulator and held it in
place with heavy duty wire ties and I never had the noise again.If you plan
on doing ball joints I recommend Moog with zerk fittings.You can grease them
and they have lifetime replacement.
>From: "Chris Reck" <Roadkill47@attbi.com>
>Reply-To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
>To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
>Subject: DML: Re: Bad ball joints -need opinions please..
>Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 20:31:45 -0600
>
>I've had mine replaced late last year. All 4 were bad at 60k. While I
>never took it in for service, I've known from this group that the ball
>joints on our trucks are non-servicable and undersized. Hence, they wear
>out. I had all 4 replaced with Spicer joints and it cost me approx $750
>including labor.
>
>With the number of attempts you have tried to get them fixed, I'd look in
>your records to see what work was done on other steering/front suspension
>components other than the ball joints.
>
>Chris Reck
>Bloomington, IL
>
>'99 Dakota Sport + CC 4x4 V6 (Deep Amethyst)
>Autolite 3923, 7.5mm Bosch plug wires, Jet Stage 1 Chip, Custom K&N 6x9 air
>intake, Rancho RSX shocks (4), Pioneer full audio system, BF Goodrich
>32x11.5r15 T/A KO tires, Spicer ball joints.
>
>""Dan Wray"" <danwray@home.com> wrote in message
>news:b5hva8$jim$1@bent.twistedbits.net...
> >
> > Hello Folks, I've been lurking here for a couple of years, found a lot
>of
> > great info.
> > Here's my problem: My Dakota is a 99 club cab with 36000 Km on it. It
>has
> > been out of warranty for about 7 months, and now they find that the ball
> > joints are shot. (not sure if both upper and lower -will find out on
> > Monday). I have had my truck in for a "clunking and popping" noise in
>the
> > front end 12 times since I bought it new. They couldn't find the problem
> > (which started 2 months after I bought it), until now that it is out of
> > warranty. The Service Manager talked to his Regional Rep. and came up
>with
>a
> > deal that I have to pay "only" $450.00. (canadian). He stated that the
>job
> > would cost $1800.00 and that the Rep is supplying the parts and that all
> > that I will have to pay is the labour. Now I think that all that I
>should
> > have to pay for is the alignment - it was the dealers fault that they
>didn't
> > fix it before. I also talked to a Chrylser rep on the phone and she said
> > that it was between me and the dealership. I know that I should have
>taken
> > it elsewhere a long time ago -but in my stupidity I thought that they
>would
> > fix it .(They did change the intermediate steering shaft and steering
>rack
> > which they said was both loose anyways .. didn't help).
> > Bottom Line- Is $450.00 unreasonable after having brought up this
>problem
>12
> > times while under warranty -or is it a good deal and I should pay it and
>get
> > the crappy sealed Chrysler ball joints installed.
> > Sorry for the long post, but I am pissed and any thoughts or opinions
>would
> > be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Dan
> >
> >
>
>
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