I need to change the ball joints in my truck. Do I need to pull the knuckle and the shafts for this? Also I have already purchased the OEM ball joints from Dodge but I can return if I need to. Other than the Carli aftermarket ones $$, are there any other good ones (Moog?) that I should look at? I really don't want to do this very often but I don't have $600 just for the uppers. I noticed some of them mention being adjustable, is this something to be desired or stay away from? It is my understanding that the uppers are just a floating kingpin assembly. If this is the case then what advantage would the Carli's offer since the full load of the front end essentially sits on the lower ball joints?

 

I am pretty sure it will be the same on your truck, I just changed my ball joints a couple weeks ago and yes rotors, hubs, half shafts all come off before you can get the knuckles off. Hopefully the press you have will include the correct cups to get yours pressed out the press I borrowed from Advance Auto parts didn't have the correct cups to get my lowers pressed out so I had to make one out of a piece of steel tubing. I picked up my replacements at NAPA for $88 a piece for both upper and lowers, but from what I have read on the forums MOOG is a good replacement I found them on AUTOPARTSDEPOT for $52-$120 depending on which ones you want

 

adjustable ball joints are used if you have camber issues, as there is no way of adjusting it on these trucks.