IT'S BALL-JOINT TIME,.. How hard?
 

Never done this before on my 99 4x4. Any pointers??

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...to-w-pics.html

this might help

Uppers are easy given you have a pickle fork.

Lowers are a pain. If you don't have access to a press they're even more of a pain. Very time consuming. It might take a whole Saturday or something to do both uppers and lowers. If you've never done ball joints before you should certainly get a service manual before you start.

Yea...uppers are cake. Just take out the cotter pin and remove the castle. Beat the crap out of the top of the knuckle with a hammer and itll break free. Remove the 3 bolts assuming they're not riveted. Lowers require the entire knuckle to be removed which involves pushing the axle through which is a challenge in itself. I have a thread somewhere but ill post again in a bit since im on my phone.

Edit: Found it!

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/...ad.php?t=79209

When I did mine right before I sold the truck I didn't think they were too bad. However, I would set aside two days to do them so you can take your time and do it properly. Beating on the truck for two days sure beat paying a shop $500 to do it though!

Couldn't agree more. Did my uppers, it took about a day. Really you just need a good persuasion tool lol

Well...when I attempted it I spent a good amount of hours dissembling the knuckle, and I got to the lower ball joint...grinded the top, used the press...everything I had available, and it didn't budge at all. I just took it to the shop to get it done as much as I hated it, but with 4x4 and pressed ball joints...it's worth it. The uppers take 30 minutes. That's it. I just did those and had the shop do just the lowers. $200ish for both lowers. I didn't exactly have the time to sit and beat on the control arms all weekend, plus it's the only car to drive.

Thanks guys. I start thursday morning.
I'll attack the driverside upper 1st.
Then, the lower. Autozone has 'em in stock.
28.99 lowers. 30.00 uppers.
They say only the uppers they have are greaseable.
Sure would like to find new lowers that will take grease too.

I would go with XRF or Napa...unless you're not planning on keeping the truck...I just did them, and the XRF were nice units. Buddy has Napa and is happy with them. Both upper and lower serviceable.

NAPA's lowers are greasable. That's where I bought mine. They were a little more expensive but I think they're better quality.