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.
BALL JOINTS ARE HORRIBLE. EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY'RE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT HAS BEEN RECALLED OR HAS ANYONE GOT PARTS REPLACED THROUGH A RECALL. IF THEY HAVE PLEASE HELP.
The upper and lower ball joints on my Dodge Durango are going out. Common problem with this year and other years. I put my wife and kids in the vehicle and it sickens me to think of what could have happened. I will never buy another Crystler made car and will never let friends or relatives.
My PCM also failed and had to be replaced on the vehicle. My poor wife had this happen with our infant in the backseat in highway traffic. They both could have been seriously injured.
I guess the owners are just like there products,spineless pieces of crap.someone will die before they admit to their problems with any of these vehicles...fact...dodge durangos should be black listed ....along with chrysler period!!!!!!!!!! oh the ball joints only cost 59 dollars so why so high to replace? Is it mechanic gouging?
Front end is squeaking and clicking like an old horse and buggy. Front tires wear off in a year or less. Had vehicle aligned...didn't help - wore off another set of tires. Vehicle just started growling and pulling to the left. Took it to the shop and they said the ball joints need replacing and the wheel bearing assembly. They said it is not safe to drive and it could cause more damage if not repaired ASAP. Total cost is $1000. I don't have that kind of money...so it is still broke. I hope I don't get in a wreck and injury myself or others. I bought this vehicle new in 1999 and took very good care of it, but these defects still showed up. I just got through paying $600 for other problems. I didn't know everyone else are having the same problems as me - so now I really feel like I got the shaft.
Something needs to be done about this. I try to buy American cars, but now I have second thoughts. I will get a different vehicle next time. Does anyone know what I can do to get Chrysler/dodge to pay for this?
I bought this vehicle used in 2004. The front end has always had a problem. The front tires have always wore from the inide out, and the brakes frequently wear out. I replaced the tires, the brakes, the shocks, etc. Now it is clear the problem was the worn ball joints all along.
- blegear,
Oceanside, CA, US
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I have a 1999 Dodge Durango, and the ball joints needs to be replaced. I cannot drive the vehicle, the tire very well may fall off. It's been sitting for over a year now and I need to get it fixed. According to the Dodge ball joint recall, it's for the years 2000-2002. The front suspension is identical on the 1999 Dodge Durango as the 2000 Durango model, yet it's not a the recall list. I'm wondering if anyone has been able to get their 1999 Dodge Durango fixed under the recall...my vehicle is paid for and I can't afford to get it fixed. It is an extremely dangerous vehicle to drive and since there has been problems with so many, I feel Dodge should take care of it. Any advice?
I just bought this car 3 months ago & the Brakes need replaced already there is a popping noise when i turn in the driveway & there is a loud squeaking in the back end that sounds like an old mattress. Not to mention the AC doesn't work. It looks great but from what i hear there has been a lot of people who has had accidents due to the ball joints breaking. This is very scary for me & my children. The Dodge dealership should have to recall these & pay for repairs if this has been an ongoing issues with Durango's that have low mileage even. If there are any deaths due to their malfunctions let that weigh on there mind
First I had the both side front ends replaced, upper and lower ball joints, inner rods and etc... And after about 3k miles, the right side needs to be replaced again to pass inspection. The car has only 77000 miles only!!! Very bad design. So long Dodge.
Had to replace the upper and lower ball joints which where not under warranty or recall due to bad tire wear on the inside. After this was done at $1,800.00 I had the front end aligned and then switched the back tires to the front and 5 months later noticed the same problem. By the way the ball joints where so bad that when the repair garage lifted the vehicle that one of the ball joints fell out. gulp!! This is crazy for this to be happening and I understand preventive maintenance but this should be a factory issue.
MY 1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT 5.2LTR HAS OVER 244000 MILES ON IT I HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE PROBLEMS WITH IT OTHER THAN THE BALL JOINTS (REPLACED UNDER RECALL) A WATER PUMP AND AN ALTERNATOR AND BASIC ROUTINE MAINT. ON VEHICLE BUT I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR HORROR STORIES AND AM SORRY TO HEAR ALL THIS AS I WAS CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER ONE. I TOW A 18 FOOT BOAT WITH IT ALL SUMMER LONG NO PROBLEMS GUESS MINE WAS BUILT ON A WEDNESDAY
The biggest problem with the "ball joints" is that my car is not inspected and can be pulled over and fined. I just haven't been able to get enough money together to get it fixed. I keep seeing 1999 aged and up Durango's everywhere and even though they are Blue Book priced next to nothing, it is still nice to have it paid off.
Anyone who decides to buy an older Durango should definitely get the extended warranty because that saved me when I first bought the car and had to change all of the Bushings twice.
Took my 1999 Durango for State inspection recently and it failed for a few reasons. One of them was that the front, drivers side, upper ball joint is shot. Cost of repair was too much to justify having the shop do the work. I picked up a replacement part from an online parts supplier but I have yet to install it. I just got done replacing both front calipers and rebuilding the back brakes as they were also shot. Every time I fix this thing something else ends up breaking. So now I have to grind and chisel out the rivets from the stock unit and install the bolt-in replacement. After I am done fixing this thing the for-sale signs are going in the windows.
I had to replace the upper and lower ball joints. couldn't drive down the road, truck was all over the road. there should be a recall on this problem. I will never buy another Dodge and will let my friends know how I feel about this. first my tranny went then my water pump and 02 sensors. this truck has been a money pit
Had to put new ball joints on, along with inner/outer tie rods for the third time. 1st = Fixing a minor collision 2 years ago, 2nd = those went bad last year, 3rd = worn out badly.
Further, I had my vehicle aligned and less than a week later heard a loud boom, and had extreme camber. Awesome.
I purchased a used 1999 Durango in January 2008. I have had alot of steering problems and squeaking noises in the front end. Im replacing upper ball joints and new front tires (I purchased new front tires in January also and cost of 400 dollars). Took my grand kids in it on vacation in June, steering was all over the road. Had an alignment done before our return trip home, didn't remedy the problem much, so its been parked in garage for about 5 months now. About a month ago the rear end had to be replaced (extended warranty or would have cost me 2000 dollars). Dodge says there is no recalls on this year, which is BULL**. I am to the point where I don't feel safe driving it, although the dealership says it is safe to drive. I think I will trust my gut instincts on that matter. Dodge should have to pay for all this. I also own a dodge Dakota 2001 and have had to replace the lower ball joints at my expense (they did recall the upper ones and fixed them) but about 2wks later I had to replace the lowers.
I bought a 99 Dodge Durango in July 2007 and my truck has been parked more than it has been driven.My suspension went out 2 weeks after I purchased it and I have spent so much money on one repair after the next. I would encourage all owners to research recall notices. I have found 4 so far and I am enraged that people are allowed to continue to sell these vehicles with so many risks. I have 5 children and this vehicle was purchased for that reason.Do they not know who are purchasing these large vehicles?Of course they do! Hence the 3rd seat.All owners should know the 2000 was recalled but not the 99.Is this a coincidence?Absolutely not.My husband spun into a 360 making a turn before we found out about this problem.I am petrified to drive my truck but I cannot afford any more repairs.I will continue to pursue these recalls and will report any solutions to this website.I hope others will do the same.Safe travels and good luck to all.
I bought a 1999 dodge Durango with 115000 miles and put new expensive tires, and after 3 months the front tires were severe worn by the sides ,I found all upper and lower ball joints are ridiculous damage, I can not believe how bad the ball joints are. I am sure is a factory defective parts. they should pay for it
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
BALL JOINTS ARE HORRIBLE. EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY'RE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT HAS BEEN RECALLED OR HAS ANYONE GOT PARTS REPLACED THROUGH A RECALL. IF THEY HAVE PLEASE HELP.
- David R., Dallas, TX, US