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REBUILDABLE BALL JOINT KIT (**OVERSIZE**) - EMF ('00-'02, 2500/3500 4WD)
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REBUILDABLE BALL JOINT KIT (**OVERSIZE**) - EMF ('00-'02, 2500/3500 4WD)

Item #: EMF-7397.1-7394.1
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  • About This Product
  • Reviews
  • Install And Tech Information
  • Videos

Description

'00-'02 Dodge Ram ball joint replacement: There aren't many truck projects that are as unpleasant. It is dirty, difficult and time consuming job.

To accomplish that goal, you need a rebuildable ball joint. The folks at EMF (Evolution Machining and Fabrication) have developed "a better mousetrap." Here is the sales pitch: EMF is a small specialty shop. They make rebuildable Heim joints, rod ends, tie rods and ball joints.

The EMF Ball Joint has a removable race and pin (part of their patent). Competitive products have a removable pin, however the inside of the housing will wear as the pin wears resulting in the inevitable replacement of the entire unit. By having the internal race and pin set on the EMF ball joint, the race will act as the wear point instead of the housing body creating a long lasting unit.

Over time, the ball joint pin and races will wear and when it gets to the point where the play can't be removed by tightening it anymore - that's when you rebuild it. You don't have to remove the ball joint from the knuckle - you can rebuild them right on the truck.

Upper Ball Joints Fit:
2000-2002 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4WD

Lower Ball Joints Fit:
2000-2002 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4WD

*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***
IF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR BALL JOINTS OUT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST OR USED A KNURLED BODY BALL JOINT, SUCH AS A MOOG PROBLEM SOLVER, YOU SHOULD PURCHASE THE OVERSIZED BALL JOINT SET. FREQUENT CHANGES OR KNURLED BALL JOINTS CAN CAUSE THE HOLE IN THE KNUCKLE TO GET STRETCHED, WHICH REQUIRES A LARGER DIAMETER HOUSING TO FIT SNUGLY INTO THE LARGER KNUCKLE HOLE. THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER IS MACHINED 10 THOUSANDTHS LARGER THAN FACTORY TO ACCOMMODATE WORN OUT OR LARGER KNUCKLE HOLES.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHICH BALL JOINTS YOUR TRUCK MAY NEED (STANDARD OR OVERSIZE), MEASURE THE INSIDE DIAMETER (ID) OF THE HOLE IN THE KNUCKLE OR AXLE. THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER (OD) OF THE JOINT SHOULD BE 0.002 OR GREATER THAN THE HOLE. SEE 'HOUSING MEASUREMENTS' BELOW FOR OD MEASUREMENTS.
***

HOUSING MEASUREMENTS:
EMF UPPER BALL JOINT REGULAR BODY SIZE - +1.898"
EMF OVERSIZED UPPER BALL JOINT SIZE - 1.905" (+.001)

EMF LOWER BALL JOINT REGULAR BODY SIZE - +1.809"
EMF OVERSIZED LOWER BALL JOINT SIZE - 1.815" (+.001)

Included in the EMF Ball Joint Kit for Ram trucks with radius arms:

  • 1 Pair of Oversized Upper Ball Joints
  • 1 Pair of Oversized Lower Ball Joints
  • Install Nuts
  • Install Washer & Cup (To avoid damaging the cap and the ring when pressing the ball joint into the knuckle)
  • Instructions
      • They are also greaseable so you can just pump a couple squirts of grease into it around every oil change and go.

      The Turbo Diesel Register has covered the subject and the most recent article was in Issue 91, pages 16-18. The conclusion: Make your first ball joint replacement your last.

Reviews

Write a review
High Quality Joint to Solve the Problems
Jan 12, 2021  |  By William Duffy
I last replaced the ball joints on my 2002 Dodge 3500 in 2013. While rebuildable ball joints were being discussed then, the over versus standard sized ball joint problem was not really being talked about. I had replaced the joints with problem solvers and they lasted about 30K miles before giving up. I don't drive a lot of miles every year. The top joint got excessively sloppy leading to a very bad vibration / wobble at 60 mph. After researching the possible options, I chose the EMF rebuildable joints. I had to remove the old ones first to make sure what I had (standard or oversize). Mine were the oversize joints. Find the TDR article about this, It's worth reading. Ordered from Geno's and delivery was very quick. I was really impressed with the kit you get from Geno's. The spanner, 2 special press tools and detailed instructions about why the kit comes with both standard nuts and nylock nuts for the joint spindles were top notch. I can also speak to both Geno's and EMF's customer service. I received the kit and was very surprised when one of the top ball joints just slid into the knuckle. Measuring clearly showed I had received a standard and an oversized top ball joint in the kit. One phone call was all it took to clear it up and get the correct part the next day. I got extremely lucky given the current situation we are all dealing with at this time. Quality level of the joints is impressive. They install well given the usual problems with Dodge axle design that get in the way of the press. Internal tolerances are very tight. Joints operate very smooth. Just greasing them (new) can make them hard to turn. Pleased that the instructions also address this. After install the truck is driving perfectly.

Install and Tech Information


Download TDR91 Ball Joint Replacement.pdf

Videos

This is a long video, but it will explain everything you wanted to know about the steering knuckle and ball joints.

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