I installed new lower ball joints on my Dodge Dakota, 2 wheel drive this weekend. The originals were riveted in place and I drilled out the rivets and put in the new TRW's with nuts and bolts ans washers. Drilling those rivets out was very hard but I got it done. To get at the original ball joints I removed the calipers, rotors and disconnected the sway bar links and outer tie rod ends then I removed the steering knuckles. All it took to pull the knuckles was a few whacks with a BFH.
I reassembled everything and the truck steers fine but now there is a clunk type noise in the front end when I go over a bump slowly, as in turning in to the driveway, or when making slow turning moves in a parking lot. There is no noise present when driving down the highway and normal 30-40 mph speeds. I put it back on jack stands and checked everything and can not find anything wrong. I also wound up replacing both sway bar links, one had a ripped boot (Napa warrantied it for me) and the other, well the threads on the control arm end stripped out and I could not get it bolted in so I bought a new TRW one from AAP.
The new ball joints are greaseable, I greased them just until they started to bulge. Is it possible I didn't put enough grease in the boots and that causes a clunk noise?
I have linked a few pics of my work here. I don't know what is causing this noise and I really would appreciate any help you can offer.
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/009xg.jpg/
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/011ybz.jpg/
http://img3.imageshack.us/i/012htb.jpg/
http://img222.imageshack.us/i/007kn.jpg/
http://img189.imageshack.us/i/008ps.jpg/
http://img21.imageshack.us/i/005yr.jpg/
I reassembled everything and the truck steers fine but now there is a clunk type noise in the front end when I go over a bump slowly, as in turning in to the driveway, or when making slow turning moves in a parking lot. There is no noise present when driving down the highway and normal 30-40 mph speeds. I put it back on jack stands and checked everything and can not find anything wrong. I also wound up replacing both sway bar links, one had a ripped boot (Napa warrantied it for me) and the other, well the threads on the control arm end stripped out and I could not get it bolted in so I bought a new TRW one from AAP.
The new ball joints are greaseable, I greased them just until they started to bulge. Is it possible I didn't put enough grease in the boots and that causes a clunk noise?
I have linked a few pics of my work here. I don't know what is causing this noise and I really would appreciate any help you can offer.
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/009xg.jpg/
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/011ybz.jpg/
http://img3.imageshack.us/i/012htb.jpg/
http://img222.imageshack.us/i/007kn.jpg/
http://img189.imageshack.us/i/008ps.jpg/
http://img21.imageshack.us/i/005yr.jpg/