I am looking at replacing ball joints, upper and lowers, tie rods ends inner and outer, idler arm, pitman arm, etc., etc., on my 1997 Dakota Sport 4x4. I am seeing ball joint press kits for 4x4's on ebay? Is there something special about my 4x4 that would need this 4x4 press kit? I don't want to buy a kit that is wrong for what I will be doing. I have a suspension fork, air chisel, impacts, various hand tools, sledge hammers, and a dictionary of cuss words ready.

Let me know your secrets and tips for painless replacement of these parts. So far I have only changed the shocks on this truck, I haven't done any suspension work for quite a few years, looking to save as much money as possible.

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

Yeah the lower ball joints are press in only so if you don't have a shop press it might be a good investment. Also if the upper ball joints are the factory ones they will have to be drilled out.

 

I was thinking of buying one of the ball joint press kits to help with the lowers. I don't know why they are saying it is a 4x4 kit? I will either drill out or chisel off the uppers.

Thanks.

 

if im not mistaken doesnt are trucks have rack and pinion steering?

 

I believe so. Is that an issue?

 

Mine were factory and they were bolted in mine... I thought that was how all 4wd ones were. I thought only 2wd uppers were rivited.

 

my 4x4 uppers were rivited in. if urs wernt they may not be stock. as far as a 4x4 kit for the lowers go, correct me if im wrong, but 2wd dont use tbars. they use coils. i need a little help on this one, wheres are 2wd guys?

 

Maybe it changed from 01 to 02? I was 99% certain mine were stock. I still have them at home, I could look sometime.

 

So will what is called a three piece ball joint press kit for a 4x4 work on my truck, or will it be missing something I need?