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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
10:57:39
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 Subject: Recall Notices
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Unbelievable. This is from Automotive News. All this, but yet, I can't get my balljoints to last more than 20k miles!!!!!
From AutoNews:
The Chrysler recalls include about 34,500 2004 model year Chrysler Pacificas to install new engine software to prevent an engine from stalling at low speeds, according to an advisory on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site.
Chrysler also recalled about 14,600 2004 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with 4.0-liter engines to replace an engine sensor that could malfunction and cause the engine to stall, NHTSA said.
It said Chrysler was also recalling about 2,800 2004 model year Jeep Libertys because the door locks could malfunction.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.come/jes_96
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MY H3RO
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
11:15:46
| RE: Recall Notices
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Left for work this morning the front end was squeking!!!!!!!!!!! 10,500 mile on my 2003
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
14:13:05
| RE: Recall Notices
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Yup. And when your DAK stops squeaking because the wheel fell off going down the freeway, keep in mind that DC was busy fixing the DOOR LOCKS on the Liberty's. Wonderful ... just friggin' wonderful!!!!!!
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
16:23:15
| RE: Recall Notices
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Looks like DC is recalling all the piddly, easy to fix things; engine sensor, pcm software, door locks. Whoo hoo, it probably took less than 1 hour and $25 to fix each of these vehicles! Compare this to the ball joint problems with the Daks. DC would have to invest alteast 4 hours and $500 to repair the Dak's balljoint problems correctly.
If the Dak balljoint problems were cheap and quick to repair, DC would have done a recall on them already. It all comes down to the bottom line. Could DC potentially get sued for more money than it would cost to fix the probelm with all the Dak's? I guess not since they know about the problem and are not doing anything about it.
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2001SLTCC
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
16:30:45
|  RE: Recall Notices
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A class action suit would hurt them pretty bad.
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so
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
16:43:11
| RE: Recall Notices
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Fixed my own for $100, big deal.
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
20:46:20
| RE: Recall Notices
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Very well put DSW. I'm with ya on every point there. It's just so frustrating ... but, I guess that's how it is.
2001SLTCC -- you're probably right, but that's really not helping me at all. Not sure if the class action suit is the way to go.
'so' - I hear ya. Went through the same thing with the front wheel bearings on my '94 Ranger. Put heavy duty Timkens in after the stockers failed at 18k miles, and never had another problem. But that was a $14k truck. I didn't expect to be wrenchin' on my $31k DAK a year after I bought it. I've got 'better' things to wrench on ... this is supposed to be a daily driver. I'm not supposed to be wrenchin on it. Guess it's kinda the principle of the thing.
Thanks for the input guys. Gotta love this board.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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Curtis C
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2004
23:55:26
| RE: Recall Notices
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99 dakota 75,000 miles ..... balljoints still tight .... only seals cracked.... no problems here ... my squeeks are coming from old dry a-arm bushings...
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WipLash
R/T
3/13/2004
00:43:32
| RE: Recall Notices
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Curtis,
Like you said, A-arm bushings..... Ball joints don't squeak. Most front ends with upper and lower A-arms will experience squeaks. There is no lubrication on the A-arm bushings to prevent squeaks, but if you go buy you a $2.00 can of Silicone Lubricant and spray the A-arm bushings down with it they will stop sqeaking. The Silicone will also preserve the rubber in the bushings. It is also good to spray Silicone on all of the exposed rubber parts like the ball joint boots. One $2.00 can of Silicone will last the lifetime of the truck. I still have the can I bought for my 98 R/T 5 years ago. I have no sqeaks. Never have and never will. It takes 10 minutes to treat a front end with Silicone. It works a lot better if you do it the day you buy your truck, but I'm obsessive compulsive in that way......
You only have to do it about once a year.
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Curtis C
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2004
09:00:19
| RE: Recall Notices
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Thanks for the info ..... what trucks are the bad ball joint affecting? Ive had my truck since 99 and used it for work till about 6 months ago .... i went to firestone to have them take a look at the ball joints and they said ther is no play in them they are just fine.... why is everyone else seem to have a problem ?
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WIpLash
R/T
3/13/2004
09:58:15
| RE: Recall Notices
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From what I can tell, the factory didn't put much grease in the original ball joints. Moisture will find a way around a seal. The moisture will then rust the joints internals and failure is soon to follow. The only way to combat the moisture is with a high quality synthetic grease or regular grease and water proofing. The boots on these joints are sub-par also. They are thin, weak, and they don't seal very good. By applying a very liberal coating of Silicone Spray to the boots, you not only preserve the boots, but you also water proof them. That $7.00 can of 6Oz water proof spray you buy to protect your leather boots is nothing but Silicone Spray you could have paid $2.00 for 12 Oz. at the Automitive department at Wal-Mart. It soaks in between the rubber and the metal and forms a waterproof seal that will keep water out of your ball joints......
It also works great on all the 4wd's ignition systems. Just spray everything down that involves the ignition under the hood.
I must be doing something right that no one else is doing because I have had 7 Dakotas in 13 years and none of them have had to have any front end work.
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2004
13:24:29
| RE: Recall Notices
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Just for clarification, per one of the engineers on the Durango investigation at NHTSA, the balljoints may squeak. Depending on the supplier for that particular joint to Dodge (sounds like they have a few crappy suppliers), they may have a plastic wear element in them that may squeak when they dry out. So ... chances are ... a couple days of squeakin, then some clunkin, then off to the parts store for new balljoints. But, as mentioned, the squeaking is probably one of the bushings. I'm on my third set of bushings on the sway bar, and second set on the A-Arms -- at 31k miles!!!! They just dry rot and fall apart here in the lovely western PA weather. Oh well ... I'll just let Dodge keep replacing them until the warranty runs out, then I'll fix their shoddy quality by getting urethane bushings. I bet they're glad they saved that $.25 on the crappy bushings and balljoints so they could spend a fistful replacing them every 4 months. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Anyone know if urethane bushings are offered yet for an '02 QC 4x4 for the A-Arms, swar bar, et cetera? Thanks.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2004
13:26:37
| RE: Recall Notices
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Oh .. and also, I tried the silicone spray. Lasted about three weeks and the squeak was back. I think it's very dependent on weather conditions. Urethane anyone?
Eric - http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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WipLash
R/T
3/13/2004
20:10:10
| RE: Recall Notices
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If the squeaking occurs when going over dippy-doos it is bushings. If the sqeaking occurs when you are sitting still and you turn the wheels lock to lock it is the ball joints.
When the wheel travels up and down the ball joint only pivots about 10 degrees. For the most part it stays straight up and down. Therefore it can't squeak because it doesn't move enough to squeak until you turn the wheels. 99% of front end squeaks are A-arm or sway bar bushings. The dealer may tell you it's the ball joints so he can charge you $800.00 to replace them. Never go to the dealer unless it's to replace something under warranty.
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2004
18:50:42
| RE: Recall Notices
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Amen Wip!!!! Damn dealerships anyhow.
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Michael
DakotaEnthusiast
3/15/2004
00:52:44
|  RE: Recall Notices
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Well the dak now has 66000 miles on it and the ball joints are gone. Have to get all four replaced. Good thing I have the 100,000 mile extended warranty. The only thing that p/sses me off is, that when it was in the shop a month and a half ago another dealer I brought it to said the joints looked good as new when I asked them to check it out. I swear if something were to happen with my family in the truck back then when they said it was fine and normal I wouldn't even be able to describe what would happen to the mechanic and service manager at that f'n dealer.
Didn't mean to rant that much just really p/ssed me off.
Later
Z-Tube, R/T Rims, SSB Rear Disc Conversion, Alpine Head-Unit, Infinity Kappa Speakers, SilverStar Headlights, HO Cams & Intake installed.
Got H.O. ?
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CJ
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2004
01:03:53
| RE: Recall Notices
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Yeah what is up with that. I have a 99 Dak 4x4 with 77k miles, never had to change the ball joints once, and no signs of it yet... Is the 99 an acceptional year for this problem, becuase I always look at what year a persons dakota is when they say they had to replace the ball joints, and it is always 97-98, or 2000 to current.. whats up with that? or is it just coincidence?
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WardenJ
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2004
01:43:35
| RE: Recall Notices
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I'm doing the balljoints on my 99 right now. My front end developed a major squeak, and I did the test of jacking it up by the control arm and seeing if the tire would rock when pushing on the top and bottm, and the right side moved about half an inch. The general consensus was that it was balljoint time.
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Mark T.
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2004
15:47:50
| RE: Recall Notices
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I have a 98' 4x4 CC with 76,000 miles on it. No balljoint problems yet.
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WipLash
R/T
3/15/2004
19:52:45
| RE: Recall Notices
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Michael,
This all seems kind of bizar. I've heard other people say the same thing you have. With a V8 Dakota you have a lot of front end weight. For ball joints to have the kind of wear you and everyone else is describing the tires would be peeling the tread off. You would be going through a pair of tires every 5K-10K miles. No one has mentioned any abnormal tire wear in the 1000-some-odd post I have read. Something just isn't adding up here. I have had several front end rebuilds in my lifetime and even minor wear in the ball joints will cause severe tire wear.
I can't come up with any justification for all of the problems everyone is supposedly having when no one has complained about tire wear. You can't have a wore out front end and not have premature tire failure to go with it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not directing anything torwards you. I'm just bumfounded at the number of ball joint complaints. Yet at the same time, NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT REPLACING TIRES! Tires cost more than ball joints! You would notice abnormal tire wear long before you noticed the ball joints being wore out.
I guess it is possible for a ball joint to go out so fast that the tires don't have time to show wear. If that's the case, then your dealer may have been telling you the truth. I doubt it, but it is possible they told you the truth.
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Lemmers
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2004
16:41:12
| RE: Recall Notices
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Balljoints CAN squeek. I had a squeek in the front of
my Mustang 5.0 that was driving me nuts. It turned out
to be the balljoint. I actually drilled a 1/16" hole in the
boot and used a grease needle to inject some good
synthetic grease to get rid of the noise. I used a 3/32"
thick O-ring cut in half to seal up the hole.
I did the same thing on the my '02 Quad. 2wd lower ball
joints. (I replaced the uppers at about 2,500 miles).
Good luck.
Later,
Lemmers
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