New member to the forums. Im looking for some adivce

First, I did the obvious and tried the search option for my issue. Results were plentiful but I could not find the particular anwers that I was looking for.

So my issue is this. I have a 1999 Dakota, 4x4, 5.2L ext cab with high miles. While driving I started to hear a little squeking noise when ever I went over a bump so I started to investigate. The noise was coming from the drivers side and you can hear it when you pull up on the body of the truck.

My issue is not with the particular noise but while I was inspecting I noticed that the outside boot that covers the left side CV shaft was split in half. I could see the joint and grease inside.

Question is should I just replace the boot with new grease and roll with that or should I just replace the entire CV half shaft? Is there a way to tell if the CV joint on end of shaft is good or wore out and if so can you just replace that joint on the end or is it one complete piece?

If its the consesus that I replace the shaft should I replace with the best that I can by or a particular replacement/rebuilt.

Also, while I have the thing torn apart if I replace I should probably replace the ball joints too. While looking at ball joints on the net I have seen some that look like bolt on typs and others that are press in. Is this correct what Im seeing for upper ball joints? Little confused here.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks

JB

 

i would just replace the half shaft as a whole cause the boot keeps dirt out and now that the boot is toren it let dirt in and is just gunna were the joint out personally i would just replace it and the ball joints i believe are rivited in and will need to be grinded down and punched out

 

here is what mine looked like. made terrible noise when 4x4 was engaged.

 

4 wheel drive ball joints are pressed in. You either need to use a ball joint press to remove the old ones and install new ones or replace the entire control arm assembly. Most parts stores will let you borrow a ball joint press set for free. Some 4WD Dakota's are covered under a recall for the ball joints. Before you do anything on it maybe call the Dodge dealer, geve them your VIN and see if you can get it fixed under the recall. Even if they do fix it you still need to keep an eye on the ball joints because they replace them with Dodge OEM ball joints and those can wear out early too.

Jimmy

 

replace the half shaft you can get a reman pretty cheap and the upper ball joint is riveted in which will be replaced by ones that bolt in and the lowers are pressed in

 

Uppers are actually bolt in and the bottoms are press in. The uppers are pretty easy to replace if you have a pickle fork. The bottoms are more difficult since you need a press. If you buy new ball joints, get something that you can actually grease.

As for the CV, I would say replace the whole thing. If you don't know how long the boot has been torn, it probably has gotten plenty of dirt in there. These boots upset me because everyone I know with a 4x4 Dakota has had one of them rip and end up causing a CV failure. I have had both the half shaft boot and driveshaft boot tear on me, causing me to replace both. It's something so small and simple, yet it makes an expensive part fail. Just make the stupid thing stronger or out of a different material and avoid all the CV failures all together.

Most people under normal driving conditions won't ever see a CV fail, unless of course the boot rips, which it does all the time. I'm not sure what other makes use to cover the CV's but I don't see it happen that often other than on the Dakotas.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I have come across a new boot for free, but Im just going to go ahead and replace the entire half shaft cause they are not all that expensive to replace and I will have a replacement boot just in case.

As for the ball joints, Im also just going to replace those as well. The lower ball joints in now are greasable so Im guessing they have been changed already. Did notice that the ball joint boot leaked grease when I put the grease gun to the zerk so I just as well replace all of them while Im at it then Im good to go

Place is to also just go ahead and repace teh U-Joint as well while Im at it and I noticed there is some fluid leaking around the plate where the drive shaft connects to the tranny so Im thinking a new gasket seal is in order for that.

Other than these issues the undercarriage of the truck looks great, no noticble rust or issues minus what I mentioned.

Just want to have a good solid base to start out and some of these maintence issues that I repair is a good start

 

Sounds like you have a weekends worth of work ahead of you lol. Most of that stuff isn't too had, just time consuming. So long as you don't break any bolts off or anything to that nature you will be fine.

I broke a bolt replacing the rear sway bar bushings last weekend and an hour project turned into a three hour project. After a few broken drill bits and a lot of cursing, I ended up just welding the bracket back on.

 

brad, how do you like thoes moogs? i hope you were impressed like i was

 

Yeah, they're light years better than the stock ones; especially the end links. It's so much more solid and you can tell the back end just feels more planted over bumps and through corners. For the fact that it only cost around $35, it's actually a great mod for the money. I would do it to any Dakota for the money. I did it because mine were shot, but even if they aren't, I would still recommend doing it.

I drive on a lot of dirt roads in Vermont, especially seeing the fiance lives on one. It should help a lot with the washboard areas. My back end might not chatter and swap out to the side as much any more. That will be a good test I'm looking forward to trying.