Hey there...I have a 94 Ram 2500 heavy duty (V10 and suspension package) I am taking it in to Chrysler for ball joints soon and they gave me two prices. The first price is $785 for non-oem 1st line parts, (and labor) and $504 for non-oem 2nd line ball joints. So can any one tell me the difference between 1st line and 2nd line oem parts? I am hoping to afford the 1st line as I want the best for this truck, but I am curious and can't find much online about it. Thanks...

 

Save yourself some serious cash and do the ball joints yourself! Or at least don't take it to the dealership.

 

Seconded.......

Dealship has higher labor rates, and grossly inflated parts prices than an independent shop. Get estimates from a couple local shops before committing to anything. Especially if you can't just do it yourself.

 

I helped some buddies change uppers and lowers about a month ago. It was a pain and his gear wasn't HD, he has a Jeep Grand Cherokee. His suspension looked like a toy as compared to mine. If I do it my self I need to invest over $250 in new tools, (which isn't a problem as I love tools!) And the local parts place has the joints at $110 for uppers and $89 for lowers. So I would be well over $650 just to do it myself. I used to be a mechanic for Chrysler back in the 90s. Now at 40 I prefer to get the young kids to do it and let them contend with stuck hardware and rusty bolts, plus I am backed by a warranty from Dodge...I just didn't know what the difference in ball joints was, besides price.

 

May want to look into these ones:

http://www.thetireclub.com/content.w..._RAM_KITS.html

 

40 years old? Wow, you are really old. LOL I'm guessing you have a 2wd (No info on that in your sig, no sig or profile info for that matter. There are tons of threads here on changing BJ's, not to mention you can get the bj's for a lot cheaper from Rock Auto and using the discount code from the thread in the general discussion area.

 

You can easily do ball joints for less than $200.

Most parts places have the installer/removal kits for rent. Just put a deposit down and get it all back when you return it. Other than that, you just need some basic hand tools.

Plus, most ball joints come with lifetime warranties. Screw paying $500+ for a Dodge warranty on a 18 year old truck.

But, to each their own.

 

i just did ball joints on my jeep grand cherokee(1998) and it cost me a little under 40 bucks total! borrowed the press from a neighbor, and all i had to use was basic hand tools. although i have an air compressor, and almost all the air tools i need to do the job.

got it all done in about 4 hours. ran into a slight problem with the lower ball joint.

 

I think the only difference you will find with buying 1st. line or 2nd. line parts is the lenght of the warrenty of the parts.... The parts at a dealership will be the same... so spend less and install zerk fitting if the don't have them and synthetic grease. Especiallly for winter when the fittings are at -60 on the highway at speed and normal grease is frozen solid.... and not lubing anything... This could be the reason your doing it now...

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess the point I didn't make clear is that I am tired of working on vehicles and busting knuckles, etc. I've been in so many situations fixing broken down vehicles that I was amazed at how great this truck was for the age. Yes it needs a few things here and there, but I don't have a garage after moving, no air compressor either. Plus all my support gear like jacks and stands aren't big enough for this truck. I still work on the wife's car but this is a big beast. Heck I just got it inspected and my mechanic said it was a monster. Just breaking 8 lugs to pop a wheel off is a pain...I'd rather let a garage do it, but like I said we moved so my "in the pocket" mechanics I trust are a 40 mile drive away versus the autoplex with Dodge right across the river...

*edit: Plus raising three kids means I don't have gobs of cash to spend on new tools. I'm still putting cash away to fix this problem. Only one income...