3rd Gen Dodge Ball Joints - Tool Q

[nvrenuf]

Sadly, I see ball joints in my future. I've done some reading and most everything recommends an OTC 8031 ball joint press kit. Looks like a nice kit but it's a little pricey (~$375) for something I'll likely use once every 10 years. Anyone have experience with the OTC 7249 kit? It's a smaller kit and looks more generic but I like the price a whole lot better (~$130). I tried calling OTC tech support for comparison info but they couldn't tell me any more than I can read.

https://www.otctools.com/products/jeeptruck-ball-joint-set

vs

https://www.otctools.com/products/ball-joint-service-kit

 

[YOUNGBLOOD13]

The smaller one is a great tool, but can't do a lot of trucks with it. We have it with some truck adapters. You can usually rent this tool from AutoZone, O'Reilly's or the like I'm pretty sure

 

[skunked]

Have you looked at HF? I needed a kit for the front a Silverado and ended up with the HF Kit and it worked great. Otherwise I would be doing what @YOUNGBLOOD13 mentioned and get a loaner from vatozone.

 

[skunked]

@nvrenuf looking at the reviews it looks like it will work for a bunch of Dodge trucks up to 3500's https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63279.html

 

[nvrenuf]

A lot of what I'm seeing online is that the HF and some loaner kits don't have a big enough C clamp. I saw on either Cumminsforum or TDR that the OTC 7249 kit was usable but the cups were a little shallow.

 

[skunked]

A lot of what I'm seeing online is that the HF and some loaner kits don't have a big enough C clamp. I saw on either Cumminsforum or TDR that the OTC 7249 kit was usable but the cups were a little shallow.

see post/link above

 

[fastazz81]

I work at a dodge dealer and have the smaller c clamp version and it works fine.

 

[nvrenuf]

I work at a dodge dealer and have the smaller c clamp version and it works fine.

So you have the OTC 7249 or similar? Do you have the additional adapters or just use the base kit?

I did skim through the HF reviews and there's lots of good ones, I just struggle with trusting Chinese HF stuff not to kill me.

 

[skunked]

So you have the OTC 7249 or similar?

I did skim through the HF reviews and there's lots of good ones, I just struggle with trusting Chinese HF stuff not to kill me.

I've done two GM's (Dirtymax & wifes Tahoe) with it and I can honestly say it's a quality tool. Like you said, you're gonna use it once.....

 

[fastazz81]

I have the base kit and all the adapters in another kit, there are a couple adapters in the expanded kit that make it easier to get the ball joints in and out , for occasional use the harbor freight one would be fine or as others have said the loan a tool program, if I didn’t do them once a week I wouldn’t have spent the money on the kits.

 

[obijuank5]

That is one job I gladly paid for. I put dynatracs in so I can do them myself later.

 

[nvrenuf]

I guess y'all are right, a loaner kit would be best. I hate not owning whatever tool I need for a give task but it's hard to justify a $400 OTC kit (what I really want) for something I might do once or twice again, ever.

 

[nvrenuf]

I work at a dodge dealer....

Unrelated Dodge question - I know the dealer scan tool can enable / disable features on a vehicle. My '06 2500 has an electric shift tcase (nv273), do you think it could reprogram the truck to think it has a manual shift tcase?

Once I convert it to manual shift I'm curious if it would be an easy flash or if I'll have to go to a performance shop for a while new "tune".

 

[fastazz81]

It’s possible if it was an original option to go in and change sales code and reconfigure vehicle, I’ll do some digging in the next couple days , you want to pm the last 8 of your vin.

 

[KirsL]

I guess y'all are right, a loaner kit would be best. I hate not owning whatever tool I need for a give task but it's hard to justify a $400 OTC kit (what I really want) for something I might do once or twice again, ever.

My dad has the smaller OTC kit. It's done two sets of ball joints in my dodge and 2 sets in his megacab. Works for well.

Remember you can use it to press u-joints in/out also. Which makes it extremely handy to have.

 

[nvrenuf]

I ran across a Matco BPS400 kit on Ebay and got it for $85 shipped. It appears to be the same as the smaller OTC kit except with 2 additional cups. Now to go sell plasma / kidney / whatever for ball joints.

 

[KirsL]

That's a good deal on that kit.

My truck I've always run the best Moog ball joints that Napa can get. I got 110k out of the first set and have about 20k on the current set. I want to say they were about 80 bucks each but I'm not a 100% on that.

 

[nvrenuf]

That's a good deal on that kit.

My truck I've always run the best Moog ball joints that Napa can get. I got 110k out of the first set and have about 20k on the current set. I want to say they were about 80 bucks each but I'm not a 100% on that.

I was wondering about your previous post, it sounded like y'all go through a lot of ball joints. Are y'all putting that many miles on the trucks or..?

I want to put some good quality parts in but those $600-$800+ sets are crazy. I just can't justify that on a gently driven daily driver.

 

[skunked]

I've had good luck with the AC Delco Professional line on the GM's.

 

[KirsL]

I was wondering about your previous post, it sounded like y'all go through a lot of ball joints. Are y'all putting that many miles on the trucks or..?

I want to put some good quality parts in but those $600-$800+ sets are crazy. I just can't justify that on a gently driven daily driver.

My truck has just under 210,000 miles on it. I changed out the orginals at around 80k and the first replacementstep were changed at 190k. I have a full Fab-Fours front bumper also. So that and most of the miles were from when I lived up in NJ. Which has some of the worst roads in the country.

I'm also of the mindset that if I change one. I'll change all 4.

My dad's truck was most likely mistreated by its previous owner for its first 10k. We had to finally put offset joints in his truck. Those have seemed to last pretty good.