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Posted by Ed Tavernier [24.188.91.191] on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 19:29:34 :
In Reply to: 05 Ball Joints posted by njjim [24.102.150.157] on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 13:20:53 :
Jim,
I spent two days during the fall of 2008 replacing the wheel bearings/U joints, and ball joints on my 2004 CTD 3500. Keep in mind that my truck sees a LOT of salt water/sand while driving on the beaches.
I redid the seized wheel bearing with an aftermarket repacement kit with repackable Timken bearings, and Dana 60 type spindles, new stub axles and manual lockouts. I put in new Ujoints at the same time, going again with the better NAPA Ujoints that have zirk fittings to grease them.
Both were easy, plug and play without any difficulties.
BALL JOINTS!!!!!IT took me a day and a half to remove the first of 4 ball joints. 6 hours more and I had all of them out. What a bear.
Heat the knuckles to expand the Ball joint race....careful for the red hot grease that will spatter out.
I went with the best of the NAPA ball joints, used a liberal amount of never seize...silver Permatex; (in case I ever have to replace them again).
Since you've got to take the knuckles off anyhow to replace the ball joints I would definitely replace the ujoints at the same time; and seriously consider replacing the unit bearings with one of the commercially prepped (Dynatrac, or Solid Axle), manual hub kits.
Eddie