Posted April 15, 201213 yr Staff I need 4 new ball joints and 4 new tie rod ends at 65,000 miles. About 20,000 miles is carrying a 3,000 lb camper on the back. Could that do it? It's unbelievable to me too.Anyone ever heard of that before?
April 16, 201213 yr My second gen has 225k total miles on it now and I put my first set of replacement ball joints on at about 150k miles. Last year I traveled 15k miles with my camper on the truck. I have replaced the track bar once in the 225k miles. I have also had to replace the steering box once in those total miles and I run Rancho 9000xl shocks. I get the truck lubed every 5k miles, rotate my tires regularly, try to avoid pot holes and when I am off road I take it easy (don't beat the truck up) and try not to have my foot on the brake when I do have to go over bumps and holes.I get the truck aligned once each year (with the camper on) and I just had it aligned last month and it is still within spec. So I am expecting to get many more miles before I need my second set of ball joints If my ball joints were needing replacement every 65k miles then I would have to be on my 4th replacement set now. Ouch!
April 16, 201213 yr Owner I run up and down washboarded dirt roads with full loads of firewood and got 185K from my first set... My truck gets worked hard offroad and it comes with potholes, washboards, ruts, etc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPpyH5Hqi1o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3025YkVz7gU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXob64FYo5I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXInW5VnOF8
April 16, 201213 yr Video ho' ^^^ :lmao:I went 170k on my OE ball joints; just changed them last fall, for the first time.65K seems definitely premature.
April 16, 201213 yr Author Staff Yes, thanks very much. Gives the idea there must be something wrong to cause such premature wear. But, What:shrug: though? Thirteen hundred bucks:spend:so early in the mileage of this truck........ is the pitsAnyone have any ideas that might cause this?
April 16, 201213 yr Idea #1: change them yourself; save $800 ;)Idea #2: granted, you've got low mileage, but the truck is still 10 yrs old. It's been sitting on those ball joints for 10 yrs. Were they greased regularly, etc? Sometimes, sitting is worse on parts than moving. It's possible that little use has allowed moisture to attack and begin deterioration of the joints. just a thought, however likely.
April 17, 201213 yr Don't let these guys fool you! A 3K lb camper is heavy and probably has your front end overloaded, and that wears BJ's out. I have 75K miles on my OEM's and hope to make it to 85K, but they are already showing the signs of retirement. 65K miles is not abnormal for a Dodge front end, not in the least.Get a set of the $$ ones (not the $$$$) and do it yourself, that's my plan for this winter.
April 17, 201213 yr Author Staff Thanks to everyone really, all good thoughts.Trouble is I don't have the energy on weekends after working all week. Plus I don't have good BJ removers and I've kind'a never done it before. It can be a bear with 'bullet balls' hittin' you know where.I have greased the BJ's each oil change but sittin' 3 weeks at a time may have something there.I have taken some very rough roads for many miles with the camper on it. I'm going to the Lithium grease from now on, if that's the best to not get washed out in rain splash roads.
April 18, 201213 yr Looks like I might be lucky then with 210k on the odometer. Still has the originals in it and the truck is used daily as a work truck. Have 9 foot flat bed on it.
Rogan 2 posts
JAG1 2 posts
Mopar1973Man 1 post
War Eagle 1 post
I need 4 new ball joints and 4 new tie rod ends at 65,000 miles. About 20,000 miles is carrying a 3,000 lb camper on the back. Could that do it? It's unbelievable to me too.Anyone ever heard of that before?