Installing a ball joint onto a Dodge Durango means installing the entire control arm on a front wheel. The upper and lower control arms each have a ball joint, and they are fixed onto the arms. These are the primary hinges for the front wheels and suspension. The exact installation process can vary depending on the year that your Durango was built and whether it has two- or four-wheel drive. And there may be other components, such as the brake caliper or shock absorber, that you need to install or adjust because they were removed/adjusted with the original arm.
Ensure that the truck's front end is properly raised and supported onto jack stands with the correct wheel removed. Raise a floor jack to support the lower control arm if you are installing the upper one.
Position the control arm and ball joint. Install the pivot bolts and/or nuts with a wrench. Do not tighten the nuts all the way on the lower control arm.
Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle and fasten it into place with a castellated nut on the ball stud. Insert a cotter pin through the holes in the nut.
Connect the brake hose support bracket in place on the upper control arm with a wrench and the bracket's bolt. Connect the stabilizer bar link to the lower control arm with its bolts.
Connect the wheel to the axle studs with the lug nuts and tire iron. Lower the truck off of the jacks.
Tighten the pivot nuts on the lower control arm once the truck is at normal ride height.
