Ball Joints - Upper and Lower

This procedure covers the replacement of both upper and lower ball joints on the front suspension of a 2014 Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine and 4WD.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper ball joint (per side) × 2 — Mopar 68211477AA or equivalent
• Lower ball joint (per side) × 2 — Mopar 68211478AA or equivalent
• Cotter pins × 4 — Use OEM specification
• Pinch bolt × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle and support on jack stands at frame rails
5. Remove front wheels completely
6. Spray all ball joint nuts, pinch bolts, and control arm bolts with penetrating oil and allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove sway bar link (if equipped)
   If the sway bar link interferes with access, remove the upper nut from the sway bar link at the control arm. Hold the shaft with an Allen key to prevent spinning while loosening the nut. Move the link out of the way.
   Torque spec

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

   Support lower control arm
   Position a floor jack under the lower control arm near the ball joint to support the weight of the suspension. Raise slightly to unload the ball joint but do not lift the vehicle. This prevents the suspension from dropping when components are disconnected.
   ⚠Maintain jack support throughout ball joint removal to control suspension movement.
3. 3

   Remove upper ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut. Using a socket and breaker bar, remove the upper ball joint nut completely. Keep track of any washers or spacers.
   Torque spec

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

   Separate upper ball joint from knuckle
   Use a pickle fork or ball joint separator tool to separate the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Strike the separator tool with a hammer to break the taper. Alternatively, leave the nut on a few threads and strike the knuckle boss with a hammer while applying upward pressure to shock the taper loose.
   ℹ️Using a pickle fork will damage the ball joint boot, which is acceptable if replacing the joint.
5. 5

   Remove lower ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint castle nut. Remove the lower ball joint nut completely. Note the torque specification as two values are listed, which may correspond to different model variations.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut137 Nm (101 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Separate lower ball joint from knuckle
   Use the ball joint separator to break the taper between the lower ball joint stud and the steering knuckle. With both ball joints disconnected, carefully lower the jack supporting the control arm and pivot the knuckle assembly away to access the ball joints.
   ⚠Control the movement of the knuckle assembly to avoid damaging brake lines, ABS wires, or CV axle boots.
7. 7

   Remove upper ball joint from control arm
   The upper ball joint is pressed into the upper control arm. Use a ball joint press or C-frame press with the appropriate adapters to press the old upper ball joint out of the control arm bore. Apply force evenly and ensure the press is properly aligned. Clean the bore thoroughly with a wire brush after removal.
   ⚠Ensure press components are secure and aligned to prevent slippage under high pressure.
8. 8

   Install new upper ball joint
   Position the new upper ball joint in the control arm bore with the correct orientation (stud pointing down). Use the ball joint press to install the new joint, pressing it in squarely until it is fully seated against the control arm. Verify the ball joint is flush and properly seated.
   ℹ️Some ball joints have a specific installation depth or use snap rings. Follow manufacturer instructions for your specific replacement part.
9. 9

   Remove lower ball joint from control arm
   The lower ball joint is pressed into the lower control arm. Use the ball joint press with appropriate receivers and installers to press the old lower ball joint out of the control arm. Clean the bore thoroughly with a wire brush.
   ⚠Lower ball joint bores may have snap ring grooves. Inspect for retaining rings before pressing.
10. 10

    Install new lower ball joint
    Position the new lower ball joint in the control arm bore with correct orientation. Press the new ball joint into the lower control arm until fully seated. If equipped with a snap ring groove, ensure any retaining hardware is properly installed per the replacement part instructions.
11. 11

    Reconnect ball joints to steering knuckle
    Raise the floor jack to lift the lower control arm and align the lower ball joint stud with the steering knuckle. Insert the stud through the knuckle. Pivot the upper control arm to align the upper ball joint stud with the knuckle and insert it through the hole. Install both ball joint nuts finger-tight.
12. 12

    Torque ball joint nuts and install cotter pins
    Torque the upper and lower ball joint nuts to specification. If two torque values are listed (137 Nm and 119 Nm), verify which applies to your specific configuration based on the ball joint type installed. After torquing, align the castle nut slots with the stud hole by tightening further if needed (never loosen to align). Install new cotter pins and bend the ends to secure.
    ℹ️Only tighten the castle nut further to align cotter pin holes, never loosen it.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut137 Nm (101 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall sway bar link if removed
    If the sway bar link was removed, reconnect it to the 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)
14. 14

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Install the front wheels and thread the lug nuts by hand. Lower the vehicle until the tires just touch the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Final torque verification with vehicle weight on suspension
    If any control arm bolts were loosened during the procedure, they must be torqued to specification with the vehicle weight on the wheels. Verify all fasteners are properly torqued and all cotter pins are installed.
    ℹ️Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle at ride height to prevent bushing bind.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Repeat procedure for opposite side if replacing both sides
2. Verify all cotter pins are properly installed and bent
3. Check that no tools or parts were left in the wheel well area

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from front suspension
• Check for proper steering response with no binding or looseness
• Perform visual inspection of all ball joint connections to ensure proper seating
• Schedule a professional alignment as ball joint replacement affects front end geometry

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