Symptoms
Clunks over bumps, uneven tire wear, wandering, play when you rock a jacked-up wheel top to bottom, or clicking from the front axle in tight turns in 4WD.
The fix, step by step
- Pull the hubs and spindles to get at the axle shafts, then press out the old ball joints with a ball-joint press.
- Fit new upper and lower joints, and set the upper adjuster sleeve if your axle has one.
- Replace the axle-shaft U-joints while the shafts are out, and repack or replace the wheel bearings and seals.
- One RamCharger Central owner wore out cheap ball joints in nine months, so buy quality parts.
Tools & part numbers
- Ball-joint press
- spindle nut socket
- bearing drivers
- torque wrench
- wheel bearing grease
Where to buy the parts
QU40187 OE ball joint set for Dana 44Torque King 4x4 ↗Amazon ↗
QU90007 greaseable front axle U-jointTorque King 4x4 ↗Amazon ↗
TK4752 Dana 44 wheel bearing & seal kit (1985–93 Ramcharger)Torque King 4x4 ↗Amazon ↗
QT1025 spindle hub nut socketTorque King 4x4 ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Dodge Ramcharger (1981–1993) parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.