Durango Dakota Ball Joint Replacement - PICTURES with Best solution i have found for the DIY. Lots of work for the bottom BJ but will save lots of $$$$.
I have done my tops and with this added info I recently found will do the bottom soon and might as well do the arm.
Do suggest using quality parts after all it's your life we're talking about. Many accidents may have been because of failure in these parts resulting in death. Consider it a benifit not second guessing what you bought. Hope this helps.
One year after buying vehicle had to replace ball joints; only had 50,000 miles on truck. Then last year it started clunking and tires were torn up. My cousin was going to change tire for me and when he jacked it up the wheels had two or three inches of wobble-room. He replaced the upper ball joints again and said I would need the lowers done as well. Worked for about three weeks then got squirrely under the front end again. Now they say I need wheel bearings redone, control arm replaced, bushings, and I can't remember what all. This weekend we were driving and there was a clankety-clunk sound under front end and I limped home. The front passenger wheel has play in it again and I am afraid to drive it. I am upside down in this worthless pile and have no more repair funds. This truck has been an evil vampire of a vehicle and I'm stuck with it!!!
Along with all the other 1999 Dodge owners who have already had ball joint issues, I recently joined the club. My Durango was making terrible creaking noise - I was certain that the entire car was going to collapse on me based on those sounds. I took it for an estimate to find out it was a problem with the ball joint.
I am a single parent with two kids, going to college full time and working. I just acquired a dodge Durango 1999, Now it is making a awful scary noise from the front end. It sounds like I am dragging something. I was told I need the tie rods and ball joints replaced on this truck, this will only cost a little over $2,000 dollars. OUCH!!! Ummm did I mention I am a single parent trying to make ends meet? This is more than I paid for the truck and definitely more than I can afford. WHY was it that the 1999 Durangos were not recalled also?
i love my 1999 Durango.... BUT, it's a pain to chase down all the problems. I'll try to mention all the problems we have, A/C it's noisy, their's an annoying sound under the chassis everytime the A/C is ON. Never ending drip of coolant (replaced water pump seal cost about $450) still dripping, i just keep adding coolant. Electrical was also grounded. Now the famous Ball Joint is making a very loud annoying and scary sound, as if it is the under chassis part were falling apart.
We bought our Durango used in Feb 2006 and after six months the front end was vibrating terribly. We took it to the dealership because the front brakes were locking up. We had this repaired on Feb 20, 2006. 6 months later we were told that the upper and lower ball joints were shot and needed replacing. We had this work done Sept. 9, 2006. After the ball joint repair and alignment ( another $891.93) we also had to replace the tires (another $800). D/C should have recalled these vehicles to make these repairs. It is a shame when an American auto maker would put lives in danger knowing that their product was faulty. I would like to see D/C held accountable for this and to reimburce Durango owners the repair costs that we have had to pay out.
- Paul B.,
Taylors, SC, US
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I went to have my truck inspected and it failed the VA safety inspection because of upper and lower ball joints. At first I was like "WhOt?!?!" no car ever fails inspection because of ball joints. I first called Daimler Chrysler and they told me that my truck was not on the recall list, and I would be responsible for the "normal wear and tear" repairs. I think this is all bull crap!! As many complaints that I read about online, they should recognize the obvious and recall the vehicles and fix the problem. The ball joints, alignment, and brand new tires set me back close to $2000, and all this occurred before 50K miles. DC should really recognize the problem and take responsibility for poor craftsmanship. I do know that I will NEVER own another Dodge vehicle, and I tell everyone I know that DaimlerChrysler is not a consumer friendly company, and they prefer to put unsafe vehicles on the road just to make a buck!
This is my second gripe. I just fount out today that the ones that were replaced in 04 are now bad. They only have 30k miles on them!!! I greased them every 3k when I changed my oil!! I take great care of my vehicles and this just frustrates the hell out of me!!!!!! I can't do the job b/c the tools I need cost a crap load of money and I only plan on having this vehicle for another 3 yrs. But the more I read about the tran. problems it has it may be sooner than later that I get rid of it. If you have this same problem with your dodge, email dodge and bi*ch about it!!! I did. I am waiting a response if any!!!!!
Also get it fixed right away. I saw pictures of durango's wrecked b/c of this problem. Can be fatal if traveling fast on a highway!!
My first complaint for the ball joints happened in 2004, when we had them replaced the first time. Vehicle had 65k on it. Cost me around 325 bucks b/c a friend that worked at a dealer did it for me as a huge favor b/c the quote I got from the dealer was 750 dollars. These things are a piece of crap. Even the replacement ones suck!! I have another complaint so follow me over to that one!!
Bought my 1999 durango in 2000. It was a used vehicle on the lot with 25,000 miles on it. Had to replace ball joints and now have to keep greasing them because they are wearing out my tires. Can't afford to keep replacing. Have hard time aligning the vehicle. Front end squeaks a lot if we don't keep grease in the ball joints. All so passenger seatbelt locks up on us and it is really hard to get it unhooked.
Dear friends: how many frustrated 99 durango owners do we need for a class action lawsuit? This is a potentially fatal defect of manufacturer: the proof is the recall of other years. Most people don't care about lawsuits until they suffer a serious accident, and live to talk about it. We 99 Durango owners have the same problems as other Durango owners and less rights according to Dodge corp. If the 2000 model was recalled with the same problem, and we hear that 98 and 99 have the same issues, how come ours were not recalled? United we stand and we have a chance of a fight, a slim one because the reality is that the Dodge corporation has enough money to pay high profile lawyers to shield them from outraged costumers but not enough money to do the right thing and replace those ball joints, which in the end is smarter. How many of you will consider purchasing another Dodge after your experience? Tell your friends, tell everyone how good your experience with Dodge was... I don't think they are going to make many sales out of us or of our friends... Our best weapon is to give them bad publicity in exchange for bad ball joints, bad publicity will hurt their sales, bad ball joints may kill us, we demand justice!
My 1999 dodge durango ball joint has went out and the dealership said since they had it ion the lift it caused the the weight of the wheels to pull down on the suspention and that is what caused the problem. They then went on to tell me that they were not liable for the problem. The truck was not making the noise before i brought it in.
I have a 1999 Dodge Durango which only a little over 45,000 miles. I have taken good care of the car, but recently took it to the dealer and they advised the upper and lower ball joints are really really bad. I have extended warranty with Lloyd Adderson Insurance; however, they don't want to cover it because they state it is wear and tear. How in the hell can you tell me I have to replace the ball joints because of wear and tear at such an early stage. I am extremely upset and would never recommend anyone buying a Durange or any model from Dodge. Furthermore, buying an extended warranty from the above agency wich is worth crap.
Mechanic at breaks plus told me ball joints need replacement and the shocks are just along for the ride!! Major problems for just having this hunk of metal for only 9 months pretty scary sh_t i would say huhhhhhhhhh????????????
This problem is dangerous and needs to be recalled. Most owners of this SUV have small children and should not have to worry it they will make it to where they are going because of this problem the dealers can simply fix.
Just got back from Florida doing 70-80 miles per hour needed inspecting so take to have inspected the next day to get turned down because the ball joints are wore all the way out. Mechanic said we were lucky the wheels didn't come off. Whats worse is we had ours 11 and 8 year old nephews with us. Please and I beg let other Dodge Durango owners no matter what make to have their's checked out ASAP. I am going to tell everyone I see with one. I am trying desperately to get it taken care of though recall process today but haven't recieved the call yet. If not I will do what I have to make it right if that means getting an Attorney involved.
brought it used had in garage more than drove it motor problem had replace it for $800.00. then year later dad replaced ball joints, inner arm tierods, a lot of things on the front end. i know he spent over 300 on front did work himself. say there were no recalls
I CAN'T BELIEVE DODGE ISNT GOING TO WARRANTY THIS. MY DAD HAS A 2000 DURANGO AND THEY FIXED HIS NO PROBLEM. MINE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I HAVE TO PAY.... BUNCH OF CRAP!
Just got new tires on the front end of our Durango and find that alignment is out of the question due to bad ball joints. Yay this is great, we've already replaced the transmission, had a major brake overhaul and now this??! Vehicle isn't worth it.
I'm just glad we and our two little children haven't been severely injured due to this defect. Come to think of it, our vehicle has squeaked going over speed bumps and pulling out of our driveway for years. These joints are the culprit I'm sure. Guess I should be thanking my lucky stars my family and I haven't been in a terrible wreck due to Dodge's ignorance.
Dodge dealer should recall all Durangos 1999 to 2005, I know the 2002 were all recalled regarding the ball joints (lower ball joints)or upper. now the 1999 durangos, are having the same problems just like the 2002 durangos. who ends up getting hurt, or badly injuryed. which are bad in the first place, this kind of problem, could be dangerous, and it's still out there...... the dealerships should step up to the plate, and take care of this ... what are they waiting for ... when some one ends up dying or gets badly injured....
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
One year after buying vehicle had to replace ball joints; only had 50,000 miles on truck. Then last year it started clunking and tires were torn up. My cousin was going to change tire for me and when he jacked it up the wheels had two or three inches of wobble-room. He replaced the upper ball joints again and said I would need the lowers done as well. Worked for about three weeks then got squirrely under the front end again. Now they say I need wheel bearings redone, control arm replaced, bushings, and I can't remember what all. This weekend we were driving and there was a clankety-clunk sound under front end and I limped home. The front passenger wheel has play in it again and I am afraid to drive it. I am upside down in this worthless pile and have no more repair funds. This truck has been an evil vampire of a vehicle and I'm stuck with it!!!
- sadams_1066, Edmond, OK, US