Ball Joint and Hub / Wheel Bearing Replacement - 3rd Gen HD's

[Cumminalong]

Below is how to do the ball joints and wheel bearing / hub assembly on a 3rd Gen 2500 or 3500 SRW.

Word of caution.....this IS a labor intensive process. It can easily be done in the driveway, but plan on a weekend if you're by yourself.

Also, you MUST have a ball joint press for this job. Without it, you WILL NOT be able to remove the ball joints. I must say thanks to Tom (Kilch123) for sending me (overnight) his ball joint press.

Please remember to use jack stands it you are under the truck. DO NOT rely solely on your hydraulic jack to support the vehicle.

Here is the removal portion. The installation portion will be in the next post.

Here is everything you are going to need for the job.....

[Cumminalong]

Now for the re-assembly.....











































Small typo here. The lug nuts are 155 lb/ft, not 1505......

[Buford445]

That's a DIY WOW 

[Moparpower151]

Is there a standard life expectancy for ball joints or does it all depend on your driving and in what terrain you operate your truck?

Awesome Write up brotha!

[Cumminalong]

Is there a standard life expectancy for ball joints or does it all depend on your driving and in what terrain you operate your truck?

Awesome Write up brotha!

It all depends. My truck has seen VERY minor off-roading and the joints lasted 46K miles.

I've heard of them going out as early as 12K.

Big tires, lots of offset on wheels, of-roading, heavy loads up front (i.e. plows), can all shorten the life of them.

[Mitch]

Were your hubs always that shiny or did you sand they off before you took the pics?

[BigRiver]

Fantastic write up, makes an intimidating job seem possible.

[ChinookFE]

Were your hubs always that shiny or did you sand they off before you took the pics?

I think he replaced the hubs too.

[sanddragonslayer]

Damn fine job Sir!!!!!!

[Cumminalong]

Were your hubs always that shiny or did you sand they off before you took the pics?

I replaced the hubs too.

[Cumminalong]

Guys, this job, while it is time comsuming, is not that difficult IF you have the correct tools for it.

If you are going to do this job, MAKE SURE you have the following items and you'll be golden.

1 - Ball Joint Press w/ the correct adapters
2 - 1-11/16 socket to remove the axle nut
3 - A torque wrench that can read high enough (269 lb/ft for the axle nut)
4 - A large crow bar to seperate the knuckle from the ball joint studs
5 - A 24mm and 28mm crows foot to tighten the nuts on the ball joints to the correct torque spec. The stud needs to be held in place with an allen wrench to keep it from spinning and you need the crow's foot to get around it. Or you can use the German measurement system and get it "Guttentight".

As long as you have those items BEFORE you start, you can have one side done in about 3 - 4 hours. It took me a little longer because I was doing the pictures and taking notes for the DIY.

Enjoy!

 

[Kilch123]

Wow - the 3rd gens are quite a bit different than the 2nd gens

2nd gen ball joints stay in the spindle, not the axle

[Cumminalong]

Wow - the 3rd gens are quite a bit different than the 2nd gens

2nd gen ball joints stay in the spindle, not the axle

Yeah, the 2nd Gen's have the D60's where the 3rd Gen's have the AAM's.

[Methos]

Rich takes no chances of his wheels falling off   

[Cumminalong]

Rich takes no chances of his wheels falling off  

What I actually do to achieve that torque spec is get another CTD to back up to the side of my truck, disconnect it's drvieshaft and then use it to tighten the lug nuts....