Dodge Ram Van Upper Control Arm, Idler Arm, and Tie Rod Replacement 1979 through 2003

HOW TO, DIY
Video is of a 1991 Dodge Ram Van B250, applies to the following:
B100 B150 B1500 B200 B250 B2500 B300 B350 B3500 CB300 Plymouth PB100 PB150 PB200 PB250 PB300 PB350
Some affiliate links:
Parts: PLEASE CHECK YOUR APPLICATION, I THINK THE ITEMS BELOW ARE UNIVERSAL BUT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FITMENT. I AM NOT PROVIDING LINKS TO SOME PARTS BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN MODELS AND YEARS
-Moog 7272 Coil Spring: Heavy spring for 3/4 ton and 1 ton, amzn.to/3kpkJ0A
-Moog Coil Spring Isolator: K160037, amzn.to/3efsmCj
-AC Delco Sway Bar Bushings: 45G0603, amzn.to/3kNwvQ2
-AC Delco Way Bar End Links: 45G0001 , amzn.to/34Ko2aK
-AC Delco Strut Rod Bushings: 45G25049, amzn.to/31Z8w9g
-Moog Strut Rod Lock Nut: K4006, amzn.to/3mJHvPh
-AC Delco Lower Control Arm Bumper: 45G1010, amzn.to/2HIstuj
-AC Delco Idler Arm: 45C1058, amzn.to/34KKJM8
-Moog Inner Tie Rod (Check threads, may be backwards): ES2120R, amzn.to/3kMXNGt
-Moog Outer Tie Rod (Check threads, may be backwards): ES2121L, amzn.to/3edgIHQ
Tools:
-Off Road 3 Ton Jack: Pro Eagle Kratos ORJ3B4X, amzn.to/2HSSoPk
-Off Road 3 Ton Jack Mount: Pro Eagle Kratos ORJ34XM, amzn.to/3egqARq
-3/4" Impact (Latest model as of 2020): Milwaukee 2864-20, amzn.to/3kJbztv
-Williams (Snap-On) 3/4"Female x 1/2" Male Reducer: Williams 6-4A, amzn.to/380SZJV
-1/4" Impact: Milwaukee 2857-20, amzn.to/2VWrddY
-3/8" Impact: Milwaukee 2758-20, amzn.to/3CALMfP
-Sunex 3/8" Drive Metric/Imperial (SAE) Impact Socket Set up to 3/4" & 19 mm: Sunex 3580, amzn.to/3ej4pKb
-Sunex 1/2" Drive Imperial (SAE) Impact Socket Set up to 1-1/2": Sunex 2568, amzn.to/31VXPEE
-Sunex 1/2" Drive Metric Impact Socket Set up to 30 mm: Sunex 2569, amzn.to/34G5AjM
-Stubby Sockets: Sunex 3646, amzn.to/3jEZUdT
Chemicals:
-Red Loctite: 262, amzn.to/3mDhb9f
-Brake Slide Lubricant: Permatex 24125, amzn.to/35PcToz
-Brake Quiet: Permatex 80077, amzn.to/35TAHYi
-Copper Anti-Seize: Permatex 09128, amzn.to/3mDpuSr
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@SteveRivett]

Please check out my affiliate links in the description if you are looking for parts and pricing.

[@geobrown9413]

You cannot center the steering wheel if you put in that solid link. It needs to be adjustable.

[@albertbarrera5542]

Stephen - can you snap photos of the instructions for crossmember removal? It would save me a ton.

[@SteveRivett]

@@albertbarrera5542 Sorry, the manual is sold with the van.

[@MrBoatside]

Great video. Stephen what would you suggest for pullers to purchase for doing the front end of the van? You mentioned that a few of them didn't fit and had to use the pickle forks.

[@roybrady8653]

​@@albertbarrera554266g6❤1mm mmk mmk

[@MythicLionMan]

I must have watched this pair of videos about 10 times over the years as I planed to do this job to our '96 Roadtrek. I finally got around to doing it this spring. This video helped a lot, so thanks. The service manual pages were useful since I only have the manual for the pickup and the suspension is different. It was also good encouragement and let me see all of the parts of the job before I got into it. It was a bit harder on our van because we have the 4 ton axle and the parts are hard to find. I had to press the bushings and joints out of our old control arms. The upper control arms with the thread in joints are a real pain. I wasn't able to get them to budge with a wrench and ended up pushing them out with a press and then screwed in new ball joints. Even though this is a big job, it's not that bad. If I were to do it again it would go much more smoothly 🙂

[@wilborth5th]

Is nice to see how you take care of your old van, I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 that I resuscitate and made a conversation out of it is my second home, I love that car I continue making improvements

[@Canthus13]

Thank you. This was a lot less daunting than I thought it'd be. I have an 86 Xplorer on the same chassis and I've been putting this off. Now to find hinge pins for the back door.

[@mwest25]

Great video, this saved me so much time after hours of researching.

[@AffordBindEquipment]

Thanks for this vid. I had never done this before and had parts in the bag I had no idea what to do with. You showed the instructions and it's exactly what I needed! yep, the washers on both sides of the idler arm is the worst part. I finally had to use a thinner washer from the old one because there was no way to get it in with both thick washer and had to use a brass hammer to pound it all into place. I ground off the original bolt to a taper and used that to hammer up through the frame part to get the parts to line up. the worst part of a simple job.... And then the castle nut on the taper of the idler arm wasn't tall enough and had to add washers to get it so the cotter pin would engage.

[@wilborth5th]

Is always nice to have space where to work, and of course all the tools, be great full for that, here in Northern California and most California is a struggle, great video, typically of Canadian kindness

[@dannybrooker7412]

Have a Dodge Ram myself and the tie rod ends need doing, am learning loads, 👍🏻 thanks from the UK

[@clarkbreen4634]

Good quality job you did

[@joeo8396]

Great video

[@DanChasingTheGlobe]

Thanks for sharing this. But I have to wonder about your statement at 5:08, "Vans aren't that popular." In my experience, vans were very popular in July 2018 and are still popular today. (Source: browsing vans on Instagram since 2016, LOL). I am full-timing in my 2001 Dodge Ram VAN 3500 - a Pleasure-Way Excel-RD Class B Motorhome. Lately the front suspension has decided to go rogue on me and no shop can figure it out. I'm going broke replacing parts. Lol. Best wishes man.

[@jackdaniel1362]

Nice video cheers from 'merica.

[@dennissecor8092]

Great video thank you for sharing this!!!😊

[@dougerrohmer]

Got a 2000 B2500. Also had loads of corrosion on the driver's side - apparently because the battery is on that side.

[@zebjafolla]

If you just wanted to do the upper control arm (with balljoint) would you just have to undo the brake housing clip. Then its just those 3 nuts? How can I keep the upper control arm lined up to fit right in and not mess with the alignment too much. I was having trouble seeing that in the video. Thanks for this vid, its a lot of help for me.

[@oldhippiebiker9089]

Do the frame side of the idler last so you can use the pickle fork on the link side.

[@jeffstewart802]

Great video, thanks! My only concern (and I am in the same situation) is all your jack stands are on what appears to be soft soil. I need to do some suspension work on the front of my '89 B250 Xplorer. I started with the front shocks. I used a floor jack and jack stands over my brick walkway form the driveway (which is dirt/gravel) and when I was done I noticed where the jack stands were the bricks had sunken down. Safety first! I'm too damn old to have made it this far only to be crushed by my van!

[@SteveRivett]

You can get some steel plate cut into 12" x 12" squares or even larger to provide support for the stands. Asphalt is worse than dirt when it gets hot so it is important to support them as you mentioned. I had this driveway made for me and it's pretty solid, 12" of stone on top of sand.

[@jeffstewart802]

@@SteveRivett Yeah, I have even used 12x12 concrete patio blocks under jack stands, but I know even those can crack. Nothing like having a nice solid concrete driveway!

[@Laodell]

Lets add that jack stand strike @ 25:30 !!!

[@kbrooks]

I use old brake rotors under my jack stands. cheaper than buying anything.

[@joeo8396]

I got a 89 roadtrek. Great van

[@leewilkinson8328]

Great job, I have a 1999 dodge 3500 Road Trek. I’ve done most of what you have done in the past, and will probably need to do it again in the future! I will reference your video. How did you get the oil pan off to repaint it without taking off the crossmember?

[@MugiwaraWeb3]

I got a 1999 dodge ram van 2500 and making a lot of noise on right side I was told it’s the control arm bushing ! I just don’t know if it’s upper or lower they charging me 250 idk if it’s a good deal or not I want to do it by myself

[@theo7491]

I have a 1975 dodge b200(the stickers says b20 for some reason) any idea if 75 suspensions are the same? Surprisingly difficult to find info on early model dodge vans online, thanks for the great video

[@SteveRivett]

If you go to RockAuto and pick something like a 1991 B250 you can look at those parts and when you click on the Part # it shows the full application. Just be careful with the ball joints as they vary depending on axle weight.

[@cruzekeller395]

Do you know what fixed it sitting lower on the driver side mine does that buy I replace the springs and the shocks

[@SteveRivett]

I think it has to do with weight distribution if it leans after replacing the springs and doing an alignment.

[@albertbarrera5542]

@stephenRivett, Rivett thanks for much for the video. I am trying to replace my crossmember. It’s rotten. I saw the instructions in the repair manual you have. I can’t find this manual online anywhere except for eBay but they charge $100. Do you mind sending me snapshots of the couple pages with instructions for replacing the crossmember?

[@SteveRivett]

Sorry, I sold the van a while back and gave the manual to the new owner. You can look at the Chilton here: archive.org/details/chiltonsdodgeful00morg

[@tpax3p]

3:52 is not adjustable bar. You looking for adjustable one if you want to set your steering wheel straight afterwards.

[@brianputnam521]

I'm having trouble with the idol arm to put the Bolt down through with the washers inside grab the Tires Move them side the side idler arm goes up-and-down

[@SteveRivett]

I had to hit the idler arm brackets with a hammer enough to fit the washers in. It would have been helpful to have a porta-power to stretch the opening.

[@ohniceness6138]

I'm basically doing this same thing to my 94 B350 camper van. How did you align the upper control arms? Wait to get the wheels back on and eyeball it?

[@ohniceness6138]

Oh and again thanks so much, especially the shots of the service manual. I don't have one and the torque specs alone helped loads. Appreciate you man!

[@SteveRivett]

I just put the new control arms where the old ones were (you can see the old marks in the paint) and took it to an alignment shop.

[@patrickfitzgerald9588]

how rusty was that frame when you painted it and how was that restored so well?

[@SteveRivett]

I wire brushed the metal and painted it with black tremclad rust paint several times. The paint needs to have enough layers that the metal doesn't poke through it or it will start rusting again really well. I didn't make any repairs to the metal and it passed a mechanical inspection later in the year.

[@jimpage2068]

Where are the grease points on this vehicle? Are there any?

[@SteveRivett]

There are a lot of grease points on the front suspension, some can only be accessed if you turn the wheel to the left and right because you need to reach through a hole in the cross member. If you had your u-joints replaced they will also have grease nipples.

[@jimpage2068]

Stephen Rivett Thanks for replying. Can you please show me where they are and how to grease them in a picture or short video? I have a 1990 Dodge B250 Roadtrek and noticed some loud chonks after having the upper control arms replaced. I want to lube the front end but don’t know how or where. I appreciate the help!

[@Swagolisious2]

never ever jack up on dirt. even with jack stands. if any of the jacks dig into the dirt over time and the vehicke becomes uneven, bad things can happen