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08:16:33 - 04/25/2024
V8 Dakotas
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mcarthey
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/20/2004
22:39:19
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 Subject: '97 Dak repair?
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Message:
Hey all,
I haven't posted here much, and have lurked only a bit more but I've just received a quote for some repairs that need to be done to my '97 Dak that I'm curious about. The AC clutch was squealing so I took it in to get an estimate. I also have been having some issues where the steering was *really* easy to turn. I can spin the wheel from full left-to-right (and vice versa) with just a flick of a finger. I had also noticed a small drip from time to time under the front passenger side. I wasn't able to locate it so I asked them to check it out as well. The truck is stock and has about 95K miles on it, and has the 5.2L engine.
Firstly, I'm a DIY'er and a woodworker. I'd like to learn more about repairing my own vehicle but I have the feeling that most of the repairs are beyond me. Secondly, I'd like to make some performance mods to the truck and I'm wondering if, given the prices for the repairs, would I be better off just spending a bit more to make changes to the systems for some performance gains? I've thought about lifting the truck a bit and adding some bigger tires, but I haven't convinced the wife on that one yet. ;)
Anyway, here's the list and their quotes.
AC clutch, coil 374.15
Steering gearbox 571.43
upper/lower ball joints 748.01
shocks 419.76
front axle seal 271.27
front brakes rotors/pad 324.00
alignment 49.99
Of these, I asked which are safety items and was told that he'd at least have the gearbox taken care of in addition to the AC clutch that I'm having fixed. For nearly 100,000 miles none of these seemed out of the ordinary, but I thought I'd check here.
What are your thoughts on all this?
Thanks for any constructive replies!
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Ross
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/20/2004
23:38:05
|  RE: '97 Dak repair?
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Message:
If you have looked around enough, you and I both know the ball joints are a weak spot on these trucks. I just got my 99 with 52k miles on her, and the dealer had to eat 1500$ in work to fix it a month later...
Inner Tie Rod ends, (both)
Ball Joints (all 4, upper and lower)
Valve Cover Gaskets,
and finally also an intake manifold gasket (also a weak point on these trucks)
the ball joints are a major safety issue... if their busted, get them fixed, but dont have the dodge dealer do them. take them to a reputable shop thats going to put higher quality greaseable ones in that wont wear out as fast.
Your shocks, you could do yourself with a little help from a service manual (chiltons or haynes) the same as the ball joints. as for the brakes... those are VERY easy to do with little effort depending on the extent of the wear.
not sure about the rest and all, out of my league... ill post more info later, my laptops about dead.
on the topic tho... your a/c is a comfort issue.
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mcarthey
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/21/2004
00:27:22
|  RE: '97 Dak repair?
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Message:
Thanks for the response. Yeah, I noticed the info on the ball joints. I haven't seen any more information on the chance of a recall, though. The mechanic said they were "worn", but he couldn't give me an idea of when/if they would be a serious issue. Thanks for the tip on the zerc fittings for the ball joints. I wouldn't have thought of that.
My only worry with the A/C clutch was that the wheel would sieze and fry the serpentine belt. I wasn't anxious to see which systems would fail were that to break. ;)
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