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David
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/26/2004
21:02:32
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 Subject: Possible ball joint fix.
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I own a 03 R/T. After reading post after post about failed ball joints I decided to do something about it. At 10,000 miles I drilled and tapped both upper and lower ball joints and installed grease fittings. It has been 7,000 miles so far and no problems yet, suspension is as tight as when new. FYI i read a post as to possible reasons for failures about upper joints getting moisture in them. This is quite possible because when drilling the uppers they have a plate that will spin when pressure from the drill bit is applied {Had to hold it with channel locks} this leads me to think water could seep into the joint, the lower joint is one solid cast. Hope this helps.
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badassdak20
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/26/2004
21:54:06
|  RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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what size drill bit and tap?I realize its been 7,000 miles but would much appreciate.thanks
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David
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/27/2004
17:05:01
|  RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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I used 1/4x28 grease fittings and drill size of 13/64, the proper size bit is a #3 but I didn't have one so had to make do. One thing I should mention by doing this I'm sure that I voided my warrenty, but was planning on replacing them with moogs anyway so what the heck, works so far.
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DakHunter
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/27/2004
18:20:54
| RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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Sounds dangerous to me... Remving material from an already weak part spells disaster in my mind... Maybe I'm just not understanding it but I think I do. By drilling out that metal you've reduced the strength of the joint even more, no?
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David
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/27/2004
20:46:39
| RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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DakHunter, If you look at the upper joint there is a separate steel disc recessed into the top. by drilling a hole in the section that is not forged as one piece, I don't think this would weaken the joint. I was a bit skeptical about the lowers however, but drilling round holes into metal doesn't detract from the integrity. Just my 2 cents worth, I'm not advising anybody to do this, just an option I did.
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furball69
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/07/2004
03:27:13
| RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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The fact that they're referred to as a 'weak' part has nothing to do with the structural strength of the ball joints but everything to do with the 'weak' engineering or design of them.
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tractorfix
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/07/2004
11:47:47
| RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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Message:
But DCX saved $.0000003 per unit!
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Tony
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/07/2004
19:59:47
| RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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I have done this several times with no ill effects.
Mainly on GM & Fords (yes, DC is not the only game
in town with lube for life joints!)
The trick is to do it ASAP! Sooner the better. Best
done on the workbench so as to get the metal shavings
out. Recommend with a vise & drill press. Make sure
it's a clean job altogether. It's tedious to do it
while still mounted to the truck, but possible. If
anyone has ever seen a cut-out (sample) ball joint,
they can better understand the structural integrity
of the unit & understand how tapping a hole for a
zerk can't damage it. Best if you remove the old ones
& practice on them - hell, it's the same crap that
the dealer's going to bolt on anyway! Don't want to
drill through the ball itself - but that steel is
hardened enough, you'll know when you hit it!
Also, recommend rubber caps for those zerks. One of
those suspension company's out there has them. Jegs
or Summit may have em too.
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bnc
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/08/2004
11:38:02
|  RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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Message:
Seems to me if you are going to go through all that trouble. Why don't you just swap out the joints with the MOOG Problem Solver ball joints. They come with the grease fittings.
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NEW_SOL
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/08/2004
12:54:32
|  RE: Possible ball joint fix.
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Message:
yeah! and you don't have to worry about all
those metal shavings in your ball joints either!
--good idea though*
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