'98 Dakota wheel bearings and ball joints

[mattdyer128]

Hey everyone, I'm new to AF and it seems like theres alot of people here that know alot more then me, so let's see if you guys can help me out! I bought a lifted Dakota 4x4 with a 5.2L in it over a year ago now and haven't had any problems with it (about 100k miles total). When I had the truck in to have new tires put on, they said that my wheel bearings on both sides were wearing and that 3 of the front ball joints were wearing out. In the estimate for the wheel bearings, they said I had to replace the whole hub assembly..? Then when I asked another shop, they said they might be able to do just the bearings. Im planning on replacing both wheel bearings and all the front ball joints and the shops estimate was about $1500, more then half of that being the labor. My brother was a auto mechanic before switching to boats and my friend is going to school in auto classes and Im pretty mechanically inclined but dont know if there is anything tricky stopping me from doing this myself (special tools, things that are a pain since I can only get my car up a couple more inches then it is). Any input is appreciated, just tryin to save some $$$ so I can continue to fill it up Thanks!

[angus10]

Get a good manual, 2 hub/bearing assembly's (not just bearings)all 4 Ball joint's. It's not that hard to do, and if you buy the bj's at autozone for instance they will rent you the tool you need to replace them for free.

[mattdyer128]

Cool thats quite reassuring Would a Chiltons manual be good enough to do this? Since I haven't had any problems with the truck yet I haven't done anything but an oil change, so it will be new workin on this truck but Im excited to get this fixed! Would you recommend doing tie-rods as well and having someone do an alignment after? Thanks for your help!

[angus10]

Factory service manual is better but a Chiltons should be fine. Just check it and read everything related to the work before you start tearing into. Do the BJ's and hub bearing assemblies first, then after that you can check the tightness of everything else. Before you do an alignment. Hub assemblies don't require an alignment. As far as BJ replacment goes it's probably a good idea bu t not totaly necesarry.After that work is done, put the vehicle back on the ground and while you look at the tie rods and everything else steering related have some on e in the cab move the wheel left to right and see if anything else is loose first before you think about doing an align.

If you are willing to learn and don't mind getting pissed during, then you should learn alot and maybe even enjoy doing the work. LOL

Oh and BTW! The axle nut and hub bearing assemblies will require certain sockets you probably don't have. So go through all that stuff first and get what you need before you start. It will be alot less aggrevating to have what you need and not have to go out and get something in the middle of the job. And you should check the axles too. Because while you are doing the hubs is the time to take care of any axle issue also.

[rhandwor]

This company sells a lot of reasonably priced tools better quality than most parts stores.
http://www.autopart.com/tools/toolsm...rch/search.asp It also will help on some sizes.
Just type in what you want such as dodge front end sockets,torx,ball joint tools,ball joint sockets. Use search on right side number on left side. I think Cornwells cheap site. I think CTA is Cornwell Tools of America.