Dodge Dakota Lower Ball Joint Replacement

[@Stoviecakes]

The audio was very helpful. If there was lighting I could have used this video alone for the entire job, but thanks for taking the time to share.

[@ghorner11]

I just moved from a 2005 Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab Laramie Sport with the 4.7. I bought it brand new still at the dealer in 2007. I loved driving it but it was the biggest lemon I have ever owned. I now have a 2011 Ram Crew Cab Sport 5.7L 4x4 that I bought with 82K kms and I'm so happy I made the move. I've had 1 issue with not having 4x4 but I believe the dealership sold it to me knowing it wasn't working (didn't realize until months later when I parked in some deep snow). I've since fixed it myself with a new CV shaft, new half shaft, and a new seal. Better gas mileage and a much nicer truck - not sorry I made the move at all.

[@6speeddakota]

My truck has been good until it hit right around 10 years old, then the problems just started popping up. It's super fun to drive, but gets horrendous gas mileage. I'm actually contemplating getting rid of my truck for a Mazda CX-5. Way cheaper on gas, overall better build quality, and practical for when we decide to increase the family size by one more person.

[@ronleblanc3290]

Great job! I appreciate all of the narrative 🙏

[@g012170]

Other than the lack of lighting this vid was a perfect demo of how to go about the task of Lower ball joints

[@tomgardella5753]

great video bro. better viewing angles is all i recommend

[@tjudson6933]

Good job man. Very helpful. Maybe add a little light.

[@lf-1942]

Have you ever changed the two other rubber bushings on the lower control arm besides the ball joint or in addition to the ball joint? Mine (1999 Dakota 4wd) are dry rotted, 0 videos on changing these bushings, only videos on lower ball joint. These rubber bushings look like a spool of thread, flange on both ends. Not quite sure how they get pressed in.. Maybe your expected to buy the entire lower arm with new rubber bushings and new ball joint. Good video though. Thanks.

[@6speeddakota]

I haven’t done it. But it may be worth putting a new arm on it because then you end up sur new ball joints. For my wife’s car it’s cheaper to throw a new arm in it versus replace all the bits

[@lf-1942]

@@6speeddakota only problem is there is no lower arm assembly for one side, can't remember if Right or left.

[@justinostrander3487]

Is the 2011 the same for replacing

[@richardshirey586]

Guy knows his shit.

[@alphawolf2993]

Im going to do upper control arm, lower ball joint and wheel bearing. What do you think the order should be? Take off the wheel bearing, do Lower ball join, upper control arm, then install new wheel bearing?

[@6speeddakota]

That's the way I would do it. But use the old trick of putting a socket and extension on the loose wheel bearing bolt and use the power steering to push the bearing out. Briansmobile1 has a great video on how to do that. I didn't know that and had to get a shop to knock the bearing out of the knuckle

[@alphawolf2993]

@@6speeddakota thanks for the reply. Just one more question. You have the whole front jacked up here, but do you think I can do it one wheel at a time? The only difference I can think is if you need to move the tie rods in and out for some reason

[@6speeddakota]

Alphawolf299 shouldn’t be an issue. Just make sure to support it properly and be safe. My now wife, then girlfriend bought me a nice set of 6 ton jackstands for my 24th birthday and that’s all I ever used to hold up that heavy truck. Definitely worth the investment for a good set

[@rauleascobedo2]

thankyou great job.

[@codylyall5954]

do you plan on posting any videos on some of the work you have done to the glasspar?

[@6speeddakota]

That's actually next in the pipeline. I'm going to do a series on how to properly roll and tip paint as well since I need to redo the white gelcoat with paint, as well as how to properly apply decals. Hopefully I can do a good payoff after it's done. Problem is that I might be losing my storage space, which will make working on it a little more difficult, so we'll have to see how that plays out.

[@larryc1964]

How many km on this truck when it needed ball joints?

[@6speeddakota]

About 200,000 km, but they were pretty bad, so I would check them beforehand

[@justinostrander3487]

Is the 2011 replacement the same?

[@6speeddakota]

I would assume so or very similar. The front end was all redesigned for the 3rd gen and it stopped production in 2011, so I would think they kept the same design throughout

[@BackBaySteve]

I guess your not too big on using a torque wrench. Excellent video though. This will help me tackle this job. Thanks!

[@bipolar5679]

Where the fuck are the 2000's.