Replace the upper ball joint on a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine by removing the upper control arm and separating the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper ball joint × 1 — Use OEM specification or Moog K8607T
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Pinch bolt (if required) × 1 — Use OEM specification

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 all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove sway bar link (if necessary for access)
   If clearance is needed, remove the upper sway bar link nut while holding the shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation. Disconnect the link from the upper control arm.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove cotter pin and loosen ball joint nut
   Use pliers to straighten and remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut. Loosen the ball joint nut but do not remove it completely yet. Leave it threaded on a few turns to protect the threads and contain the joint when separated.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from steering knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork, break the taper between the upper ball joint stud and the steering knuckle. Strike the separator firmly with a hammer if needed. Once separated, remove the ball joint nut completely and lower the knuckle away from the control arm.
   ⚠Ball joint is under tension. Keep hands clear when using separator as joint may release suddenly.
4. 4

   Mark and remove upper control arm
   Mark the position of the upper control arm adjustment cams or bolts for reference during reassembly. Support the control arm with a jack or by hand. Remove the two control arm mounting bolts from the frame. Remove the control arm from the vehicle.
   ℹ️Taking photos of cam positions can help during reinstallation to minimize alignment changes.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove old ball joint from control arm
   Secure the upper control arm in a vise. Using a ball joint press with appropriate adapters, press the old ball joint out of the control arm. Apply steady pressure until the ball joint is fully removed. Note the orientation of the ball joint for proper installation of the new one.
   ⚠Ensure ball joint press adapters are properly sized and aligned to avoid damaging the control arm.
6. 6

   Clean control arm bore
   Use a wire brush to thoroughly clean the ball joint bore in the upper control arm, removing all rust, dirt, and debris. Inspect the bore for damage or excessive wear that could prevent proper seating of the new ball joint.
   ℹ️A clean bore ensures proper seating and prevents premature ball joint failure.
7. 7

   Install new ball joint
   Position the new upper ball joint in the control arm bore with the stud facing the correct direction. Using the ball joint press with appropriate adapters, press the new ball joint into the control arm until it is fully seated. The ball joint should be flush and even in the control arm.
   ⚠Do not press on the ball joint stud. Press only on the outer housing to avoid damaging internal components.
8. 8

   Install control arm to frame
   Position the upper control arm back onto the frame mounting points, aligning the adjustment cams or bolts to the marks made during removal. Install the control arm bolts and thread them in by hand. Do not torque at this time - bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Connect ball joint to steering knuckle
   Raise the steering knuckle up to meet the upper ball joint stud. Insert the stud through the knuckle hole. Install the ball joint castle nut and tighten to specification. Ensure the nut is torqued to the proper value, then continue tightening if necessary to align the cotter pin hole with the castle nut slots.
   ⚠Always tighten to align cotter pin holes - never loosen the nut to align the pin.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Install new cotter pin
    Insert a new cotter pin through the ball joint stud and castle nut. Bend the ends of the cotter pin around the nut to secure it properly. Ensure the cotter pin is fully seated and will not work loose.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall sway bar link if removed
    If the sway bar link was disconnected, reconnect it to the upper 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
    Reinstall the wheel and tire assembly. Thread the lug nuts by hand, then snug them in a star pattern while vehicle is still raised. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but suspension is not fully loaded.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle weight on wheels
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension (wheels on ground), torque the upper control arm mounting bolts to specification. This ensures proper suspension geometry and bushing alignment under load.
    ⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued with suspension loaded to prevent premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    With vehicle fully on the ground, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification in the proper sequence
2. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and secured
3. Verify control arm bolts were torqued with vehicle weight on wheels

Verification

• Verify ball joint has no play by grasping tire at top and bottom and checking for movement
• Inspect cotter pin installation to ensure it is properly seated and bent
• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises or handling issues
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment as soon as possible after ball joint replacement

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