I have not checked that yet........... But will do. And what was fully replaced.

1.) Replaced the sway bar bushings
2.) Replaced the sway bar links (does the new sway bar links come with new bushings?)
3.) Outter tie rod ends have been replaced with aftermarket redesigned ones that fix the oem issues.
4.) And the intermediate steering shaft was replaced do to a tbs on the truck

 

Alright, new links shouldve come with bushings. You can get under there and check if they were installed correctly and not over-torqued. Hopefully they were replaced with the 2008+ links which are completly silver. If they are black, they are the old style links and they broke pretty easy. You can grab on to the link and shake it up and down, and if it moves its broke again. It is very possible that they broke even if they are new.

Other than that, does it make the noise if you bounce the front end? At least you could get under there and try and pinpoint where the issue is coming from.

 

They are silver the last time I saw them. The noise is only there when I drive it. I tried bouncing the front end and it's quite which doesn't make sense to me cause the noise I am getting is like a rod loose metal on metal.

 

That is most likely the sway bar. It probably occurs while going over uneven terrain? Like a pothole filled parking lot.

Check the bushings on top of the links. If they were overtorqued, the bushings will be pushed out and this will give you metal on metal. The bushings need to be torqued to about 25 ft lbs and they should be mushroomed around the sway bar. If one or both of the bushings arent perfectly mushroomed, the bar will rub on the link.

 

Thanks will check those in a bit. Do you know what the bottoms should be torqued at?

 

85 or 95 ft lbs if I remember correctly. I can pull up the manual when I get home or you can download it. Its at the top of the section and its stickied there. Has every procedure you can imagine in there with any tools, values, or parts that you will need.

 

i think i remember reading the bottom needs to be torqued to 75 lbs

 

Here is a pic of the top of my sway bar link.

 

Those look ok to me.

You can try jacking up the front end, grabbing a hold of each wheel and shake it back and forth. Everything should be tight with no movement.

It could be time for balljoints, and they clunk in and out of their sockets when they go bad.

 

Hello. I know this is an old forum. I just got my dodge Dakota 2005, When I purchased this vehicle from the dealer the parking lot was filled with rock and pot holes. I noticed when it would bounce it would make a squeaky sound. Since I have been driving it a few days I don't hear it anymore. My friend that is a mechanic advised me to change these with 53k miles on it that they are prone to go... Should this be regular maintenance on this vehicle? I can have them today by napa for $23 each. I plan on either installing these this weekend and/or greasing the suspension front and rear. What are your thoughts? The bushings don't look busted. The bottom bushing looks almost completely squashed.

Few questions (never change sway links before):
-Bottom nut, first on, how do I know where to set it?
-I read a forum that said 25 PSI top and 80 PSI bottom, is this with an air wrench? Can they properly be torqued with air?