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ChrisM
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/13/2010
10:51:39
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 Subject: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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I bought the front upper and front lower (4WD) ball joints and the inner and outer tie rods and plan on replacing them when they arrive. (My truck failed inspection and the guy said it was the ball joint or tie rod, so I got them all)
How easy or difficult is it to replace these, and does anyone have any advice on how to do it?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/13/2010
13:32:58
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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Message:
Never did the Balljoints but the Tie Rods are a piece of cake.
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/14/2010
11:43:50
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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Message:
Some parts stores (Adavnce Auto, Autozone, etc)will print out directions AND loan you any specialty tools needed to complete each task when you purchase the parts. All you have to do is ask.
You didn't state what year, so we don't know if you have rack-n-pinion or steering box. These should cover both.
Tie Rod Ends: - Do them one at a time, start to finish -
*Remove Cotter pin
*Loosen Castle Nut
*You can flip the nut and hit it(make sure it is covering the threads!) with a hammer to separate, or better yet use a 'pickle fork' or tie rod separator to do this
*Count the exposed threads or measure the total amount of exposed tie rod length (write this info down!)
*Loosen the clamp on the tie rod adjuster tube(Steering box type) or jam nut (rack-n-pinion type)
*Remove tie rod end
*Install new tie rod end with same amount of thread, or length showing. This gets you 'close' as far as "toe-in / toe-out".
*Repeat above steps for each of the ends
Ball Joints: -Depending on year, Uppers may be screwed in or riveted in. The Lowers, I have not personally changed-
*Uppers Same as tie rod: Cotter pin, castle nut, and separate joint
*On earlier models they screw into the upper control arm and require a LARGE special socket and a LARGE breaker bar to get in and out
*I thought on the newer models they are held in with rivets that need to be ground / cut off. The rivets get replaced with bolts when re-assembled. If I'm wrong, sombody correct me.
I have not changed lowers so I don't know the step by steps. Anybody else?
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ChrisM
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/14/2010
11:57:35
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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I bought the parts at Rock Auto online... so its a little late for autozone :/
Its a 2000, sorry for not mentioning that before.
Thank you very much for the help
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JR
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/21/2010
12:20:53
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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I am in the middle of replacing both the upper and lower ball joints on my 98 2wd dakota. Both the top and bottom are riveted to the arms. The upper was easiest to remove the arm, then chisel off the head of the rivets and it came off. The bottom rivets were about twice the diameter of the upper and was sandwiched between 2 parts of the lower arm. I left the arm on the truck and used and air chisel to take off the top of the rivet. I then had to drill all the way (about 2 inches) through each of the 4 rivets in order to get the lower out of there. There might be a better way to do this, but I'm not aware. The rivet wouldn't punch out with an air tool, it was just too tight and rusted in.
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calikota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/21/2010
21:34:40
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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Message:
Good post. I just looked underneath when I replaced my tires and its time to replace my tie rods.
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Cody
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/12/2010
11:49:37
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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Message:
I did this on a 99 ram not too long ago. Took the control arm
off the truck and took it to a machine shop and had the ball
joints pressed in. As for the tie rod ends the just screw on and
of. Good tip on couting the threads btw
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ray sharpe
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/02/2010
20:45:54
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
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Message:
my passenger side tierod came off on the highway and almost killed me when my passenger side wheel and tierod slipped off and i almost rolled into the ditch. both had to be replaced for safety reasons.
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NtensR/T
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/04/2010
19:25:04
| RE: Ball Joints /Tie Rods Replacement
IP: Logged
Message:
how many miles are on these trucks when these need to be replaced? i have a 2000 r/t with 70k miles. im getting ready to replace the stabilizer bar end links and clamp bushings.
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