Went to have my Ram aligned the other day, and was told the ball joints were bad. I called the dealership and they told me that they were non-serviceable. Was wondering the best way to take care of this problem.

 

Replace the ball joints

Go to a parts store and get some MOOGs...something good with grease zerks in them.

 

definetly MOOG. great parts and lifetime warranty.

 

You all are saying to replace the ball joints. The dealership told me that they were non serviceable. How do I go about replaceing them? I know they are welded in. The problem is, I don't want to have to deal with someone who can says they can weld and then get screwed over. I was able to get an estimate from a local 4x4 shop that I do a lot of business with since I work for a salvage yard, and he said that he can replace the control arms (upper) and lower balljoints for around 800 dollars. I am going to take the truck to him and let him look at it and see what he says.

 

You are doing the right thing by taking it to someone else to look at.
Just remember that the front end will need to be realigned. If the 4X shop does this, good, or if they use a reputable shop to do the work and don't mark up the alignment. Just try to take it to a shop that you or someone you know trusts. Unless you have a good set of tools, mechanical knowledge, time, and a good place to work on it, sometimes it's better to let them do it. Besides it will need to go to a shop for alignment anyway...

 

Yeah. I know the guys at the shop. I do have the knowledge and tools to do it, but i would rather let someone else do it so that if there is anything wrong i can take it back to someone and they can fix it. Thank you all for your help.

 

The dealer said they were nonservicable, meaning they can't me worked on and fixxed. But they can still be replaced.

Just like our front hub assembly is nonservicable. When it goes out you can't fix the unit, you just have to buy a whole new one.

 

hmm you're ball joints are on the out... mine is a 2001 too... hmm makes me wonder if mine are going bad..

sorry for the thread jack but i was wondering what was your sign to get them checked? or what are the signs of them going bad?

 

one way to check them is to jack the truck up so the tire is off the ground grab it on the top and bottom and if you can move rock the tire (while its still attached of course) If the tire moves the ball joints are bad

 

They're definitely replaceable. You can even do it yourself: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/balljoint.php