Unless you have a 4x4, the 2001 FSM is the same as the 98 on this job.
The bushing job can be done at home, but for the PITA that it is, I'd give
it to a competent shop. Also, NAPA has the wrong number in their catalog
when I did mine 2 months ago. Double check the part before disassembly!!!
Otherwise, chase parts, tear it apart, drag it to a shop to press the old
ones out, grind off the ball joint, drag it home and reinstall, and drive it
back to the shop scrubbing the crap outta the front tires for an alignment
and waste some more time ;-) This was the 99 DA RC R/T.
The 2K failed a bushing, and I gave it to the shop after the first set, MUCH
EASIER. ;-)
TonyC
-----Original Message-----
From: raymond.irons@gm.com <raymond.irons@gm.com>
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
Date: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 8:23 AM
Subject: DML: Couple things, this and that
>
> OK Ya'll, I need a little advice and some help from you folks.
>
>1st thing, I told ya'll the saga of the vehicle inspection, and the
>inspectors didn't catch the worn out tire. I went to change the tires last
>Thursday and found the front brakes needed some attention. So, I bought new
>pads, caliper guide pins, and rotors. I went out to install the new parts
>Saturday and found the right side upper control arm rear bushing is shot.
>Its all cracked and has a big split in it. Now I know the recommended way
>to go is to replace these with the bushing from energy suspension. I have a
>copy of a FSM but its for a 2001 model and my truck is a 1998. The FSM I
>have says to remove the arm and use a special tool to R&R the bushing. I
>have no problem with that. My question is, with 109K on the truck and since
>I'm gonna have the upper control arm off anyway should I go ahead and
>replace the ball joints? If so, can I replace the ball joint by itself or
>do I need to replace the entire upper control arm? The FSM I have (again
>its not for my year vehicle) say the entire arm should be replaced if the
>ball joint fails the inspection procedure. As a retired jet engine
>mechanic, I consider myself to be a fairly competent mechanic and I do have
>an ASE certified friend that can help me. What I want to know is, is this a
>job I can do myself in my driveway or local auto craft center? If anyone
>has a FSM for a 98 and can scan the appropriate sections, I'd really
>appreciate it. I'm almost afraid to do anymore work to the truck; it seems
>lately that everytime I fix something, I find something else, more
>expensive broke.
>
>Now for the 2nd thing. After I got done with the front brakes, I was on my
>way over to Dover AFB to get a few things. While I heading southbound on Rt
>113, near the main gate, I got passed by a SUV. I saw it in the rear view
>mirror, but it didn't register on me what it was. After it passed me, I saw
>the vehicle emblems on the lift gate, the dealer tag, and was I surprised.
>A brand new Dodge Durango and it had the emblem on the lift gate: HEMI. No
>dealer decal or anything to see where it came from. That was the first one
>I saw. Now I'm wondering if the dealer here in Dover has any on the lot yet
>that I can go look at. I'm also wondering if since DC retooled the Durango
>so they could fit the Hemi under the hood, how much longer will it be for
>the Dakota?
>
>Ray Irons
>Dover, DE
>
>
>
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