Does any one have any info on getting the LOWER ball joints repaired on my Dakota Sport 2wd P/U with the 2.5 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual? Ihave only 75K miles on the truck and thejoints are shot and it's gonna cost over $300.00 to remove/replace them. I've had Chevy's last over 500K before they needed attention and even then they were the factory joints. Ineed info and help asap before I get ripped off. I'd do the job myself but don't have a place to do it at.

 

Sorry to tell you the bad news, but unless you have access to a palce with some decent tools, including air tools, you are in bad shape. You will have to get the old joints pressed out of the lower control arm and have the new ones pressed in. $300 doesn't sound too bad for the amount of work involved to be honest. I bet the place you took it to doesn't realize they are pressed in.

 

ya, $300 aint too bad for replacing BJ's


what year is your truck? 00-04 had a recall awhile ago.

 

It's a 1999 plain boned stock truck with the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder. 5 speed, A/C, pwr steering but with an upgraded pioneer stereo system. When I lived in CA, the place to work on it wasn't a problem. I had a shop that I shared with my brother. Tools and machinery out the wazoo! But now live in New Hampshire and waiting for my house to finish being built. The shop comes later, then going out to CA to get the rest of my tools. I also got to get my 1967 Dodge C-10 Fleetside P/U with the slant 6, Saginaw 3 on the tree, Saginaw rear axle and steering sector. That truck's done except for paint. Gotta get a digi-camera so I can post that truck from start to finish.

 

show me your 500,000 mile chevy ball joints and ill pay to have your replaced

 

I just did uppers and lowers in 3 hours. On my friend 99.They were bolted in not pressed. I thought th originals were rivited?

 

i'm with you 5 speed

 

The originals are riveted. They have to be drilled out, so if his had bolts then they were already replaced at least once.

 

It was a 77 Chevy 1/2 with the 350 V-8 and 3 speed turbo 400. I got it with 390K miles on it, had to rebuild the engine and trans. I bought it in '87 and sold it to my brother in '92. He drove it daily until a drunk "T" boned him in '94. Truck was then totalled out. Sorry I couldn't take you up on the deal. I do know the joints were stock because they were still riveted in the "A" arms (upper and lower).

 

I agree.