Is all this pretty much the same for my '01 half Ram? My lowers seem very secure L/H and R/H. Uppers are shot indeed...

 

IIRC the rotors are also floaters so yeah it should pretty much apply to the 1/2 ton. I had been suggested in this thread http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3r...ml#post2293965 that I used the press wrong and that may be why it bent.

Go about 1/2 way down and you'll see the changed pic of an alternate method...

 

This article saved my life yesterday, it only took me 6 hours to do the U-Joints, without it may have been 10. Even though you posted it as Ball-joints, lots of info here to help with other projects. Thank you

 

no problem, glad it is helping!

welcome to DF...

 

I've done all the ball joints and u joints in the front of my 05 2500 for the second time in a year this past week and this forum/posting is a huge help. Now if only we had all metric or all imperial fittings on the front end this repair would be a breeze.

 

ouch, 2nd time in a year... look at the dynatrac ball joints for a better solution or XRF's are supposed to be good.

I have the Carli uppers & may be doing the Carli lowers soon as the moogs that are in there now are not cutting it. having it checked for play tomorrow.

 

Synner , what brand ball joints did you put in your truck that only lasted a short while. I know it is only a matter of time and I will have to do mine and I don't want to be replacing them within a year after doing them.

 

Good article and pictures. I have the u-joint and ball joints on the RS of my 03 3500 QC to do. LS was done a few years back by shop, they gooned the hub, knuckle and broke all 4 bolts in the process, $1100 bill. Not this time.

We have done a couple of Ram 1500's and other than a few less bolts, its about the same deal. I found if I didn't have the press lined up straight with the ball joint then it was very difficult to press them in and out. Parts Source here has a press to borrow for free, and that is a good deal.

sprntpshr

 

Never been able to figure out why bolts and fittings are all mixed; Imperial and Metric. Just a PIA as far as I can see.

sprntpshr

 

Tried another set of OEM Dodge ball joints as I had heard mixed reviews on the Moogs. Have to remember this is a plow truck and I work the pants off of this thing.

This time I put Moog units in so we'll see what happens. If my pockets were deeper I would have had Carli but not this time. Maybe next round which is probably going to be next spring, haha.

I've heard of shops doing the hub/bearing everytime they do the ball joints or front u joints as they can't get the hub apart? Seems like an expensive way to change a ball or u joint.