wrong. the ball joints do not need to be removed or touched to change the u-joints.


if you're mechanically inclined, try to replace the ball joints yourself.they are a pain in the *** but doable with the proper tools, which can most of the time be rented for free from an autozone.

 

You save a lot of money doing the work yourself. Since i have bought my truck, i have done all the work myself. You start off on balljoints, it will build your confidence, and before you know it you will be fixing everything on your truck. The money you spend on labor for repairs could be going to upgrades for the truck[sm=badbadbad.gif]

 

Well after this i think i will now do the work i can do myself at home in my shop.next 2 things are spray in bedliner and a full exhaust system.Then i can stop and enjoy it some.Not that i dont already but i can put money away and stop spending it like a river ..

thanks
pat

 

how do you get the factory ball joints off? i have an 01 dodge ram 1500 2wd. the factory mounts are riveted on. lookin for the best way to get these off.

 

Grind off the head of the rivit and use a hammer and punch to knock out the rest of it. Might need a little heat to help it out. The new ball joint should come with bolts to replace the rivits.

 

^a small 4 inch angle grinder or air chisel will make quick work of it.

 

They are a bitch to get off... I beleive the best way would be taking the angle grinder to the heads and making a plus sign on them, then air chisel them off.

I have 100K on my truck and ALL the ball joints have been replaced with grease-able ones, so seems right that your needed new ones... $1200 is a bit steep for shocks, spacer, and ball joints. Could have saved $8-900 in labor.

Brad

 

I bought this truck for $2500.00. so far I have put in a set of Daystar 2.5" coil spring spacers. the truck has 160,000 miles on it. with a rebuilt 5.2 that has 53,000 miles on it. it needs new ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman arm. all of which i can do myself. not a bad truck. body is straight with no rust. will be putting a fabtech 6.5" lift kit and a 3" body lift within the next month. runnin 35/12.50/17 nitto mud grapplers. will post pics soon. thanks for the help on the ball joint issue. never worked on a truck that had them riveted in there. wasn't sure how much of a pain it was gonna be.

 

Make sure you get an alignment done after ball joints and tie rod ends.