RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF

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RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF

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RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/9/2004 8:08:03 AM

datacop

Posts: 24
Joined: 12/9/2004
Status: offline

This happened yesterday.. 12/8/2004.

Luckily, I was just pulling into the parking lot of the gas station and not crusing up the highway (in two days) with the family to spend Christmas celebrations with extended family.

2000 Durango SLP, Magnum V8, Less than 60k miles. No "standard" warning signs of failure with the ball joints.. they just gave away.

Low Rez

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High Rez

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{edit}Actual Milage on the truck: 53,331 {/edit}

Attachment (2)

< Message edited by datacop -- 12/9/2004 6:34:07 PM >

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Post #: 16

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/9/2004 6:30:25 PM

datacop

Posts: 24
Joined: 12/9/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: robust57

Let's get one thing straight here if one ball joint fails the front end of the car is not going to fall off. Also for one side's wheel to fall off you would have to have the upper ball joint break, the lower ball joint break, the tie rod end break, and then break the CV joint for a wheel to fall off. I've done plenty of offroading with bad ball joints on my 98 D and never has this happend. In my own opinion its impossible for this to happen and the rummor probably started with some GM reject salesperson. If someone would just look at this part of the car for 10 minutes it would be pretty obvious that this is just a bad rumor.

Also the uppers are rivets and the lowers are pressed in. The ball joints aren't that bad of a weekend task, to do the uppers and lowers parts cost 200 bucks at most, then a press kit ranges from 50-100 bucks. 8-12 hours of time and the project is done.

That is exactally what happened.. the proof is in the pictures. The upper failed, the CV snapped, then the lower failed. Tie rod didn't fail, but it's pooched and needs replaced.

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Post #: 17

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/10/2004 3:10:09 PM

Rockey

Posts: 1
Joined: 5/2/2004
Status: offline

Apparently it's primarily 2000 through 2003 4x4 Durango and Dakota's that are having issues since that's what NHTSA has requested Chrysler to recall today. I don't know if Chrysler changed the upper ball joint design or supplier during that period?
My 98 Durango 4x4 has 98k miles on it with no indication of ball joint issues (at least not yet).

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'98 Durango SLT 4x4 5.2L

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Post #: 18

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/10/2004 6:38:29 PM

Kensai

Posts: 1652
Joined: 12/30/2003
From: United States
Status: offline

From what redrider bob wrote, if your Durango was not built from the Indiana plant, you may be the lucky ones. I will have to check my Durango to see where it was built as I do not have these problems yet and I am riding at 56k miles now on my 2000 R/T.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rockey

Apparently it's primarily 2000 through 2003 4x4 Durango and Dakota's that are having issues since that's what NHTSA has requested Chrysler to recall today. I don't know if Chrysler changed the upper ball joint design or supplier during that period?
My 98 Durango 4x4 has 98k miles on it with no indication of ball joint issues (at least not yet).

(in reply to Rockey)

Post #: 19

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/13/2004 3:17:24 PM

robust57

Posts: 97
Joined: 7/14/2004
Status: offline

Yeah looks pretty bad, but once again the front end didn't fall off as many people are indicating.

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Post #: 20

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/13/2004 4:08:45 PM

dodgemech

Posts: 788
Joined: 2/22/2004
Status: offline

See the sticky topic about this on top of the main page.

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Post #: 21

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/14/2004 3:50:08 PM

mopar222

Posts: 265
Joined: 3/31/2004
Status: offline

Hey guys don't feel so bad, I also have an olds 88, and one day the steering wheel cocked 20 degrees to the right. Didn't think about it, but it did feel strange. Anyways, there are 6 bolts and washers that hold the front end on. 5 of them washers rusted out and the front end was hanging on by 1 bolt!!! The dealer said the steering usually disconects at that point and you get in an accident. So don't get down on dodge. They ALL do things like this. Just be thankful that theres places like this to find out before the fact. And may front ends today are lifetime greesed, but a truck should be greeseable. Just throwing in my 2cents. PEACE

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Post #: 22

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 12/20/2004 9:56:53 PM

JoshJohnson

Posts: 18
Joined: 12/20/2004
Status: offline

I posted this in a differant thread but will here too there is only a problem with certain vehicles what I was told by the service department at the local Dodge dealership was that the calibration was off on the machine that produced the ball joints for these vehicles. This being said it is only vehicles that came from that specific plant not all vehicles and if I am not mistaken you can find the info to see if your Durango is on recall through the Dodge site reflecting VIN's check it out if it is yours you will have them replaced for no charge and you should be good to go and from what I have heard the clunking noise you hear is a tell tail sign that yours is one of them.

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Post #: 23

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 8/20/2007 11:51:35 AM

wilcom

Posts: 4
Joined: 8/15/2007
Status: offline

I saw the picture and it qualifies in my book for "the front end falling off" . What do you want , the whole front end from firewall forward to separate b4 it qualifies!!!! ROTFLMAO

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Post #: 24

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 8/20/2007 8:24:24 PM

bigbaddurango

Posts: 105
Joined: 8/16/2007
Status: offline

I no a guy that was running down the interstate at 70mph and lost the front passanger ball joint witch broke every thing else holding the wheel on and whent under the truck fliping him 4 times in too a gard rail he walked away but let me tell you i changed mine the next week i will try to get some pics posted on here of what was left after a short stay in the hospital he was ok

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Post #: 25

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 3/6/2008 4:18:31 PM

nim81

Posts: 159
Joined: 11/16/2006
Status: offline

my front end has fallen out once then the 2nd front end i had tore apart while going 75mph down i-70 through kansas in the middle of nowhere then a wheel hub went out then the other and just today somthing broke and the dam durango turns left and right at the same time!!!
but i still love my dodge. even though i have no money and my mechanic just bought a new viper, huh????? does that seem fishy to you guys?

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'99 durango 5.2L
k$n, accel
2200 watt 12" subs, kenwood h/u, mtx componet sys.
285/70 firestone a/t on 17'' american racing rims
tons of other crap that cost to much money

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Post #: 26

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 3/7/2008 8:48:34 AM

Kensai

Posts: 1652
Joined: 12/30/2003
From: United States
Status: offline

dude, I know you love your durango, but 2 strikes on your front end is telling you that you may need to do a thorough inspection of your front end so you won't strike out on the 3rd time around if you are around to tell the tale.

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Post #: 27

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 3/8/2008 8:49:59 AM

ivelmonte

Posts: 5
Joined: 3/4/2008
Status: offline

How can you tell if there's a problem?

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Post #: 28

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 3/8/2008 11:26:44 AM

hydrashocker

Posts: 1767
Joined: 6/12/2005
Status: offline

1. Uneven tire wear.
2. Have an 4 wheel aglinment.
3. Lift the front of the vehical by the frame and grasp the wheel moving it up and down, side to side, and all over and feel for wear.

These are basic maintance tasks. People just don't look for them until around 100k miles or find them when they do aglinments or other preventitive maintance.

But, the Durango's had bad ones installed in them at the production facility. People need to be aware that this problem exists and look for them pre-maturely.

< Message edited by hydrashocker -- 3/8/2008 11:34:43 AM >

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Post #: 29

RE: RUMOR ABOUT FRONT END FALLING OFF - 3/8/2008 12:55:06 PM

ivelmonte

Posts: 5
Joined: 3/4/2008
Status: offline

I just had a wheel alignment in November and if nothing was found wrong then it should be good then right?

(in reply to hydrashocker)

Post #: 30

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