Ball Joints - Nightmare!

[Dave3500]

I got 185K on the clock before changing my bal joints. I'm still running factory brake pas after 185K miles. My VP44 injection pump has 136K miles on it.. What are you talking about...

That's what I'm saying!

[Mopar1973Man]

That's what I'm saying!

Nevermind... Not enough coffee...

[dripley]

i went about 220k on mine. the truck was interesting to drive to say the least.

[Mopar1973Man]

Well today I finally finished this project. Month later... But I got James back down here and we figured out a whole new game plan and managed to get them pressed out without even using heat. Still used the Harbor Freight Ball Joint Press but when you get some pressure laid to it take your shop sledge hammer and smack the knuckle with a good hit. I didn't hit the tool or the joint just the side of the knuckle ears and BAM! It would jump. Start wrenching down and it continues to press out like it should. I've taken a short test drive and it seems a bit tighter for steering but good. So more to come later...

[dripley]

i think if i had been James i might of insisted on a slightly differant than the first time.

[Mopar1973Man]

i think if i had been James i might of insisted on a slightly differant than the first time.

Trust me... I was asking if he wanted the torch to hea them up again... He was ready to whip my arse...

[Dave3500]

I rented a puller from Advance Auto parts. I didn't need any heat either!

[Rogan]

In efforts (last night) to try and determine why my truck is eating up a right-front tire, I noticed the left front UBJ is completely trashed. Jack up the axle, and the top of the tire falls out about 2 inches! Ironically, this is NOT the tire that's getting eaten up..so now, I still need to figure out WTF is going on with the tire wear on the right, in addition to replacing all 4 ball joints.. This, after my ECM took a dive 2 weeks ago, and also noticed my steering box is getting sloppy at the output shaft..Yay. FML.

[dripley]

when mine went it started wearing both front tires like i had them under inflated even though i was running them with 80psi. fixed all that and the ecm went:spend:. fixed that then a new nv5600 was needed:spend:. i need about a year trouble free to recouparate from all that. i dont want to know about my steering box yet.