Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
03:47:44 - 03/29/2024

Dealer, TSB's and Recalls
FromMessage
ewraven
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

10/31/2006
18:00:06

Subject: Car Quest BRAND ball joints
IP: Logged

Message:
I discovered today that both of my front upper ball joints have play in them.

They are the originals with 106,000 miles on them though; I am lucky in that regard!

I went to Car Quest for the Moog ball joints. Car Quest has store brand greaseable upper ball joints for the Dakota now. They are only 35.00 dollars each whereas the Moog ones are 75.00 dollars each.

However, the CarQuest brand only as a one year warranty and are made in Taiwan. The Moog ones have a lifetime warranty and are made in the USA.


I went with the Moog ones anyway, I feel that these are a safety item and so I didn't want to go cheap. The guy behind the counter said that the Moogs are built better(duh) with teflon seals and all.

Anyway, anyone had any experience with these CarQuest brand ball joints? If so, how many miles do you have on them? Do you think they are worth the fifty percent cost savings.


How hard are these things to replace anyway? It is like 250 dollars in labor for the dealer to do it.



Richard
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

11/02/2006
02:45:59

RE: Car Quest BRAND ball joints
IP: Logged

Message:
I just replaced my upper and lower on my 97 2wd. The upper are not that bad, just grind the top of them off and knock them off. I found that for the lowers it is easier to just take the whole control arm off. Buy a 3/8" drill bit, grind the top of the brads off, drill until you are to the ball-joint and grab a punch and knock the brad out. It is easy if you know what you are doing. If you know what you are doing, you should be able to do it within a couple of hours.



ewraven
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

11/02/2006
06:23:06

RE: Car Quest BRAND ball joints
IP: Logged

Message:
Cool, thanks for the info.

The dealer said it was listed as a three hour job and wants 250.00 dollars. Another dealer will likely only want around 180.00 dollars with tax I think though.

That 250.00 dollars sure would be better spent on an angle grinder and some good punches! LOL



Richard
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

11/24/2006
09:37:47

RE: Car Quest BRAND ball joints
IP: Logged

Message:
I the only problem that I had with the Moogs is that when I went to put grease in them one of the uppers had a bad seal and held no grease. Thank god for lifetime warranty.



   P 1


Post a reply to this message:

Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages


Name:
Email:
Notify me when I get a reply to my message:Yes  No

Icons:            

          

Subject:
Message:
 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.