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2nd Gen Ram Tech1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.
I was just replacing the ball joints on my 1998 Ram 2500 4x4 with a Dana 60 frontend. I just noticed that all the documentation and videos I see online show the ball joints being pressed into to the housing on the axel side. On mine the ball joints are pressed in to the steering knuckle. I was just curious if anyone knows anything about this? If it was done that way originally in some cases? Or did someone do this aftermarket at some point? These do seem to be the original joints judging by how hard they were to get out. So This turned out to be a good thing as I was not able to press the joints out using the kit i borrowed from the parts store and ended up having to take the knuckle to the shop press to get them out/install the new ones.
The "later" Dodge 60 front I have here presses the BJ's into the inner C's. I say "later" because this is the easier-to-service style with rotors that just slide off.
I think your '98 was the harder-to-service style? If so, I don't know if that also dictated where the press fit is for the BJ body?
I believe that was one of those changes Dodge made during the 2nd gen 2500-3500 truck manufacturing run around the 1998 time frame. My 1996 Ram 2500 Dana 60 front differential uses the ball joints that press into the inner "C" that is made onto the axle housing. My front rotors are also the style that has the wheel studs that have knurled shoulders that press the rotors onto the hubs. The rotors certainly aren't easy to change on this style axle.
I believe that was one of those changes Dodge made during the 2nd gen 2500-3500 truck manufacturing run around the 1998 time frame. My 1996 Ram 2500 Dana 60 front differential uses the ball joints that press into the inner "C" that is made onto the axle housing. My front rotors are also the style that has the wheel studs that have knurled shoulders that press the rotors onto the hubs. The rotors certainly aren't easy to change on this style axle.
Then that doesn't add up. The one pictured is ~99 or ~00 and still presses the BJ's into the inner C's, but has the rotors that just slide off.
Unless there was just one MY like '98 that was an exception.
Yea and you need a press the get them back in. I tried this with a BFH and no luck.
Yes, they can be tough to install. I used a good 3/4" impact wrench and a started with a cheap ball joint press. The cheap ball joint press split in half while trying to press in the ball joint. The forged Snap-On ball joint press installed it without issue.
That's quite possible. That was certainly speculation on my part about 98+ front end changes, however, there were indeed changes made during the run of 2nd gens..
The "later" Dodge 60 front I have here presses the BJ's into the inner C's. I say "later" because this is the easier-to-service style with rotors that just slide off.
I think your '98 was the harder-to-service style? If so, I don't know if that also dictated where the press fit is for the BJ body?
Interesting. mine are pressed in opposite of yours for sure. I put them back in the same way i found them. but it seems backwards from everything else i have seen online.
Unless there was just one MY like '98 that was an exception.
Most people call it the 99-02 ffront axle. When I was digging through parts catalogs to find stuff for swapping one into my 95 I noticed many parts catlogs call it 98.5-02. I think they may have switched over part way through the 98 build year.
Ball Joints Pressed into steering knuckle?
