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TenSleep80
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2006
20:05:13

Subject: Bushing Replacement
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Hello,

It's time to replace the front bushings, upper & lower ball joints, spring boots and shocks on my '97 5.2 Dakota. I pulled the upper and lower control arms today and will need to order the parts. I would like suggestions for sourcing better than average parts for a good price (sounds like I'm asking for the moon, but what the heck!).

From reading other threads, sounds like the Monroe Reflex shocks are preferred by the majority as a good compromise between comfort, performance and longevity.



toolfan
GenIII
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8/19/2006
21:08:33

RE: Bushing Replacement
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i would go with the duralast for the ball joints that will save you $80 over moog, i did the energy suspension bushings and im happy with those. cant say on shocks but don't go the cheap route like i did.



dsw
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2006
21:49:44

RE: Bushing Replacement
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Try truckperformance.com for the bushing kit and rockauto.com for the other stuff. Search around here and you might find a 5% discount code for rockauto.



mikesz
*GenIII*
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8/21/2006
11:12:27

RE: Bushing Replacement
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This is a discount code for rockauto.com-464945427902.Just put those digits without anything else in the window named I guess "how did You find Us"??They also have bushings at reasonable prices(ca.10USD/pc)

mikesz

cyrjm
Dodge Dakota
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8/22/2006
21:06:54

RE: Bushing Replacement
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how hard is it to replace those bushings up front? my front end feels like shiat when i hit anything. i've got billsteins as well which are stiff as hell and probably don't help the cause...



mikesz
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8/23/2006
17:02:22

RE: Bushing Replacement
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seems to be not easy.you will need some special equipment.At least press to remove old ones and press in new ones in the arm.

mikesz

toolfan
GenIII
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8/27/2006
15:13:31

RE: Bushing Replacement
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cyrjm

it doesn't take any special tools except a spring compressor, you can rent that tool from auto zone.
you will have to have the lower control arm bushings pressed out. the top bushing you use the original bushing shell so you can just heat the rubber up and hammer it out.

let us know if you need help. its pretty easy but time consuming. give yourself a weekend to do it or more and you will probably need a helping hand.

the truck will need an alignment when your done.

believe me it will make the front end feel 100 times more solid.

good luck



toolfan
GenIII
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8/27/2006
15:21:05

RE: Bushing Replacement
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TenSleep80

if you have any lower ball joint boot problems get some tie rod end boots and they work great on the ball joint. make sure you get the high quality tie rod end boots. there about $4 a piece you will need two. my replacement lower ball joints went bad in 5,000 miles because the boot that came with it never sealed.



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