Remove and replace the lower ball joint on the front suspension of a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower ball joint × 1 — Use OEM specification Mopar part or equivalent
• Cotter pin for ball joint nut × 1 — Standard size for ball joint castle nut
• Pinch bolt (if required) × 1 — Use new OEM bolt per torque specs

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
4. Remove wheel and tire assembly
5. Spray penetrating oil on ball joint nut, control arm bolts, and any rusted fasteners; allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove wheel and support control arm
   With vehicle raised and supported, remove the wheel completely. Position a floor jack under the lower control arm near the ball joint to support the arm and relieve spring tension. Raise jack just enough to take up slack but not lift the vehicle.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link if necessary
   If the sway bar link interferes with access, hold the shaft with an Allen key and remove the nut connecting the sway bar link to the lower control arm. Swing the link out of the way.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using pliers. Remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Note whether your configuration uses the 137 Nm or 119 Nm specification for reassembly.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut137 Nm (101 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Using a pickle fork or ball joint separator tool, separate the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Strike the tool sharply with a hammer if needed. Alternatively, use a pinch bolt method if equipped - remove the pinch bolt and spread the knuckle opening. Support the knuckle/hub assembly with wire to prevent stress on brake hose.
   ⚠Ball joint may separate suddenly. Keep hands clear of pinch points between control arm and knuckle.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt82 Nm (61 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Mark control arm position (if removing)
   If control arm removal is necessary for ball joint access, mark the position of cam bolts or adjustment points before removal. This helps maintain alignment settings during reassembly.
6. 6

   Press out old ball joint
   Using a ball joint press or C-frame press with appropriate adapters, press the old ball joint out of the lower control arm. Ensure the receiving cup is properly sized and aligned to avoid damaging the control arm bore. Apply steady pressure until the ball joint is fully removed.
   ⚠Verify press adapters are correctly sized and positioned before applying full pressure. Improper alignment can damage control arm.
7. 7

   Clean ball joint bore
   Thoroughly clean the ball joint bore in the control arm using a wire brush. Remove all rust, debris, and old material. Inspect the bore for damage, cracks, or excessive wear. If bore is damaged, control arm replacement is required.
8. 8

   Install new ball joint
   Position the new ball joint in the control arm bore, ensuring correct orientation (grease fitting facing the correct direction per manufacturer specifications). Using the ball joint press with appropriate installation adapters, press the new ball joint into the control arm until fully seated. The ball joint should be flush or seated to the manufacturer's specified depth.
   ⚠Press only on the ball joint housing, never on the stud. Pressing on the stud will damage the internal bearing.
9. 9

   Reinstall control arm (if removed)
   If the control arm was removed, reinstall it to the frame mounts, aligning with marks made during removal. Install bolts finger-tight only at this stage. Final torquing must be done with vehicle weight on wheels.
10. 10

    Connect ball joint to knuckle
    Lower the steering knuckle onto the ball joint stud. If using pinch bolt style, install new pinch bolt and torque to specification. If using castle nut style, install the castle nut and torque to the specified value (either 137 Nm or 119 Nm depending on your specific configuration). Align castle nut slots with stud hole and install new cotter pin. Bend cotter pin ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut137 Nm (101 lb-ft)

    Pinch Bolt82 Nm (61 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect sway bar link
    If sway bar link was disconnected, reconnect it to the lower control arm. Hold the shaft with an Allen key and torque the nut to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install the wheel and tire assembly. Thread lug nuts by hand, then snug them in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until tires just contact the ground but vehicle weight is not fully transferred.
13. 13

    Torque control arm bolts and lug nuts
    With vehicle weight on wheels (tires on ground, full vehicle weight supported), torque the control arm bolts to specification. This ensures proper bushing alignment and prevents premature wear. Then torque wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    ℹ️Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle at ride height to prevent bushing bind and premature failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Verify new cotter pin is properly installed and bent
3. Check that brake hoses and ABS wiring are properly routed and secured
4. If control arm was removed or adjusted, vehicle requires professional wheel alignment

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from front suspension
• Check for proper steering response and no pulling to either side
• Visually inspect ball joint area for any signs of looseness or missing hardware
• Schedule wheel alignment to verify camber, caster, and toe settings are within specification

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