I am new to the forum so I need some advice. I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 with the V10. I primarily use it for camping, towing the boat, moving most of my friends because it is the extended cab and long bed. I have towed a number or car trailers with it as well, but mostly always highway miles except for boat ramps!

Last August I was told by my mechanic (who I am beginning to suspect) that I needed new ball joints. After an inspection, I agreed. I ordered XRF upper and lower ball joints and new tie rod ends. I attempted to install them myself but could not get the lower shock bolt out to access the lower control arm, the ball joint press I had required it to be lowered as well as the factory manual I have for the truck. I took it over to my mechanic who said he could do it and install theh XRF ball joints, but since he didn't provide the part he could not warranty the work. I let him do it and asked him how he got the shock bolt out, he said he didn't have to because he had a smaller portable ball joint press and pressed them out and back in.

So, I took the truck in to have new tires in late April. I ordered some from Tire Rack and he called me and said that the passenger upper ball joint was bad. I said that makes no sense since the truck has about 2000 miles on it since they were brand new. His answer was that this is a "design" flaw in this model of Dodge Ram that the ball joints pop out and that he could "weld" it back in. I didn't have the money at the time to get a new control arm with the ball joint installed and frankly they look cheap (not greasable), so I said if he could do so and the truck would be safe and reliable, go ahead.

About a week ago I am driving back with the boat (about 3800 lbs) and around 40 miles an hour or so the front end is shaking. I got safely home and put the boat away and low and behold the "welded in" ball joint has "popped" out again. There is no problem with the driver side, its solid and is in properly. I feel that the mechanic made a mistake putting it in in the first place, but I wanted some opinions.

I am not going back to him either way, but any suggestions on fixing the problem with now a new upper control arm and ball joint? I like the XRF but I don't know what to do about this since apparently this is a "design" flaw. Oddly the original ball joints lasted to nearly 140,000 with the design flaw and all.

 

I am assuming it is 2wd...

If the upper ball joint is popping out of the control arm and tack welding it did not help, then I am inclined to say that the hole in which the ball joint is pressed into (in the control arm) has become too deformed to hold the joint both with and without the assistance of tack welds.

I have been through this before... only sure way to fix it is with a new control arm and new ball joint.

Here is a thread that may be of use to you:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...placement.html

 

Yes, it is 2WD. I can't seem to find a UCA without the ball joint. XRF is willing to replace the ball joint, any suggestions on getting a UCA without the ball joint installed?

 

I do a lot of ordering through these guys:

http://www.moparpartsamerica.com/spl...?siteid=214583

They may have something for you.

I have also picked up low mileage units off of eBay. They are often cheap and the last one I picked up did not have the ball joint in the housing. It holds a new ball joint fine, but there is always the possibility of getting another defective unit going this route.

 

A 17 yr old girl ran a stop sign and my son had to take evasive action, hard left, clipped the car with the right side of the pickup, and ran off the left side of the road and hit a dirt embankment about 8"-10" high and stopping just past it. Hitting that little embankment knocked the right upper ball joint up and out of the control arm (and also bent the control arm shaft slightly). I had to replace the UCA to get it home. Very poor design. Even the two bolts the hold down the control arm shaft are just relying on the friction clamp of the two bolts to keep it from moving. Nothing even close to being as good as the older Chevy pickup setup. The upper ball joint just presses in from the top so a hard sudden blow from the bottom (such as hitting a chug hole) can drive it up and out. Now my questions (1) does anyone make a heavier duty replacement control arm for the 2wd upper? (2) and does anyone know if the 2000 and up control arm will fit in place of it? In 2000 Dodge went to a riveted on upper ball joint on the pressed steel control arm.