I noticed very sloppy steering on my 96' ram 2wd I checked the front end linkage and there is excesive play out of those ball joints under there when I rock either wheel side to side, Can i just replace the ball joints or do I have to buy the trackbar and the tierod ends, pittman arm and all that?
thanks.. oh and how hard are they to replace?

 

I replaced all 4 ball joints on the 4+4.. Well, I paid someone to do it cause it looks like to be a PITA. But you dont have to replace all that stuff at one time.
Might be easier on a 2 wheel drive though.

 

cool! thanks dude. I'll give it a whack my self and if I get in trouble so be it.

 

First a 2wd doesn't have a track bar. You can replace stuff in sections. Find whatever group is worn worst, then replace that group of items (ie, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc.) Once everything is replaced, get it aligned by a shop.

I've never done ball joints in a 2wd. The lowers in my 4wd were SHOT at 68,000 miles and I replaced those myself. Isn't too hard if you've done a few before.