Durango Wo's

[Pflumingo]

Anyone have advice for an easier way to remove the lower ball joints from my 98 Durango?

I really don't feel like beating the pants off the yoke, but I'm also too cheap to take in my control arms to have them pressed in. Anyone ever replaced ball joints on one of these that might have some advice? I'm actually doing both sides, top and bottom this weekend.

the only good thing about it is I get to drive my XJ to get parts etc... and now the old lady says I can lift the old girl (My xj) so maybe I can slip in some parts for the lift and she won't know the difference...

 

[gw204]

I've heard the ball joints can't be replaced. You have to swap out the entire control arm.... :bawl:

 

[Pflumingo]

Actually, I just replaced both upper and lower on the Passenger side. I'm glad I have my Cherokee to drive because another 10 miles, and I would have lost my wheel. The upper was so loose I could almost remove the ball from the socket with my hands. The only thing really holding it in place was the rubber boot, that and 5600lbs of durango.

What a pain in the butt though, Had to remove the axle, Sealed bearing, and turn the wheel juuuuusst right to get at them... Autozone is great with the Loan a tool program... I couldn't have replaced the lower without the Ball Joint Press... Looks like a GIANT c-clamp, but works like a champ to press out and in ball joints.

Took me 2 hours for one side, Now I'm off to do the other.
Luckily, my control arm bushings are still good, or I'd have to get those pressed in at a shop, no easy way to do that.

BTW, this is the first time I have replaced a ball joint on this vehicle, and I have 138,000 miles on it... I have heard horror stories of ones going bad at 20,000 and less.

Now I just need to lift the durango too, but the ifs is a pain and I wouldn't get much more travel anyways.

 

[Pflumingo]

woohoo!... Maybe now my tires won't wear bald on the insides... I lost my negative camber, and now it's straight as an arrow.

 

[Ludakris]

I just had both uppers replaced in my 02 Dakota under warranty (30K), I was glad to have it done because the rivets had to be removed and replaced with bolts. Now when i crank the torsion bars for some lift and i wear the ball joints, they wont be bad to replace. Mostly the it will be the tow rig for my newly aquired xj though.....