Ball Joints

wolfen1086 · 11-18-2019, 05:28 PM

Upper and lower on a 93 Dakota, drivers side came apart easy because I just had that side apart when I was working on the threads for the brake slide pins........the passenger side made up for it.....trust me
Bottom ball joints basically fell out, three or four hits with my hammer and they were in the dirt, tops I'm waiting on Scott to get home with a ball joint press, all 4 are bad, got 4 new ones today from Rock auto, paid more in shipping LOL

Corday · 11-18-2019, 05:36 PM

Don't know about these days, but when I lived in Penna. in the 40s and 50s, State Inspection included taking the weight off each front wheel and shaking for play. If over the limit, FAILED. Could be ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, bushings, control arms, didn't matter. FAILED.

**SABL** · 11-18-2019, 05:39 PM

Good luck. Suspension not my favorite thing to work on. Actually, anything automotive is not my favorite thing to work on.....

**Midnight Tech** · 11-18-2019, 06:38 PM

Gotta get new ones for Hector once he's back up and running.

Corday · 11-19-2019, 09:34 AM

Nostalgia. My first car had kingpins as ball joints weren't around yet. I'm an old

wolfen1086 · 11-20-2019, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corday

Don't know about these days, but when I lived in Penna. in the 40s and 50s, State Inspection included taking the weight off each front wheel and shaking for play. If over the limit, FAILED. Could be ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, bushings, control arms, didn't matter. FAILED.

It is here too thing is whe the guy at Morris checked my truck everything was good, one was marginal but no lateral play in it yet

Quote:

Originally Posted by SABL

Good luck. Suspension not my favorite thing to work on. Actually, anything automotive is not my favorite thing to work on.....

I liek engines better but now days they require a plumber and an electrician just fo find them LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corday

Nostalgia. My first car had kingpins as ball joints weren't around yet. I'm an old

My first car had "A" frames and a wasp waist frame, my first truck I had no idea when suspension it had cause it ran perfect when I got it all the way up till it was "T" boned on Norfolk by a drunk it was a 56 Dodge pickup, Black with baby moon hub caps 3 on the tree manual brakes, steering and a AM radio

wolfen1086 · 11-28-2019, 04:36 PM

Here's an update they are in the bottoms are held in with a clip, the top ones however Screw in, I have never seen that on a newer vehicle before, I used a pair of really big pliers this time but I;m fabricating a jig to hold steel in place so I can build a tool to hold the next ball joints so I can screw them in, also I discovered on reassemble that my Right hub is bad, trust me driving it lets me know when I make a left hand turn

**Wrench97** · 11-30-2019, 09:04 AM

2 9/64" socket > https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...XoCr4QhC0IKSgA

wolfen1086 · 11-30-2019, 12:23 PM

Holy bejesus Wrench, I'd have never guess that tool even existed.....bookmarked so i can order it later
thanks man

Oh the hubs came today, so as soon as the wife's truck is done I'll be pulling the Dakota back in
doing front struts on the F150 right now

wolfen1086 · 12-01-2019, 09:48 AM

Trucks in the garage right now right side if off the ground, while I am changing the hub that abs ring and is coming off too, since I don't have abs on the front

wolfen1086 · 12-01-2019, 12:54 PM

ok abs ring removed, dust cover removed , makes a noise lie something grinding, took it back apart rotated tires, inspected right front shaft hub brake caliper greased slides and it still makes noise, its from the right side and worse when I make a left at 35 or above.

I shoulda labeled this thread Dakota problems LOL

**SABL** · 12-01-2019, 04:25 PM

Did you jack that wheel up and give it a spin to see what's 'growling'??

wolfen1086 · 12-01-2019, 04:37 PM

Yea, but when I spin it by hand it doesn't make any noise
nothings rubbing that I can see brake works fine half shaft has 0 play in it

**SABL** · 12-01-2019, 04:42 PM

That's not nice. Not going to act up unless there is weight on it. The more weight the more noise....like when making a LH turn.

**Wrench97** · 12-01-2019, 04:45 PM

Does that have wheel hubs or regular old style wheel bearings on it?

wolfen1086 · 12-02-2019, 02:38 PM

My truck has wheel Hubs, the kind that have 4 bolts holding it on the spindle and the half shaft going through it.
the new hub came Friday I installed it yesterday and the noise is still there and the same, so i asked the mechanic supervisor at Hertford today what he thought it was, he said it might be the shaft
what do yall think? should I disassemble the shaft and try that?

Corday · 12-02-2019, 03:29 PM

Not familiar with the Dakota, but if you can still adjust the wheel bearings with the built in hub assembly, spin the wheel and tighten the castle nut until you feel resistance and back off a ¼ turn.

**Wrench97** · 12-02-2019, 04:08 PM

You could pull the axle off and test drive it to be sure.

Corday · 12-02-2019, 05:41 PM

**Midnight Tech** · 12-02-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corday

Not familiar with the Dakota, but if you can still adjust the wheel bearings with the built in hub assembly, spin the wheel and tighten the castle nut until you feel resistance and back off a ¼ turn.

No adjustment on those hub bearings, Corday.
wolfen, if you can pull that axle and test drive it without losing fluid from that front differential, give it a shot. Hopefully it's not anything in there.