So I have the truck in the garage and I have removed the tie rod end (Needs Replacing). Removed the upper ball joint and have removed the Knuckle. Now I am looking at the lower control arm and the lower ball joint. Does it press out from the top? It has this lip around it and then a concave surround with that little hat in the middle. It looks like I need to press it out from the top down but really wanted to make sure before I screw up my lower control arm.

 

my 03 i pushed it out from the top i just pounded it out with a hammer but yes it should press out from the top.

 

Do these lower ball joints have a snap ring on them like most others?
If so, you might want to make sure it's removed before either pressing or pounding.
Al.

 

no these ball joints don't have a snap ring the new ones will have a snap ring to put on but these should just press out.

 

if you removed the upper control arm i believe you will need a wheel alignment when your done but i guess you will need one if your doing your tie rod ends as well.

 

I need to do this to my 03, as I've found both my tie rod ends, upper control arm bushes and track rod ends were completely goosed. I've got to assume therefore, that the lower ball joints are also toast if the other stuff was so bad?
My stabiliser bar bushings and the stabiliser link bushes are also perished and I'm goiung to replace those as well.
I read that the Dodge manual says to "press in the new ball joints" and "stake the ball joint flange in 4 evenly spaced places, around the flange with a hammer and chisel".
I guess I'll just go with the snap ring supplied with my ball joints.
Al.