OEM 2000 Dodge Viper Ball Joint

2000 Dodge Viper Ball Joint Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair an Upper Ball Joint Dust Cover on 2000 Dodge Viper?

  A: The first step to work on the upper ball joint is to engage the parking brake and raise the vehicle according to the proper lifting instructions. Un Screw and take away the wheel and tire assembly, remove the cotter pin, nut lock and spring washer off the axle yoke, lastly take away the hub nut holding the yoke to the hub and bearing assembly. Let go of the parking brake and get rid of the shock assembly from your car. You must remove the axle shaft to use the special tool that detaches the upper ball joint from the knuckle. Take the axle shaft out from the side that needs the upper ball joint seal boot replaced. If you can't remove the yoke by hand, use the Puller, Special Tool CT-1003. Disconnect the axle shaft yoke with the rear brakes and cut the tie wrap restraining the park brake cable from the rear knuckle. After that, remove the cotter pin and castle nut linking the upper control arm ball joint to the knuckle. As you use Puller, Special Tool C-3564-A, to pull apart the upper ball joint stud, rest Adapter, Special Tool 6962, on the lower ball joint in the rear knuckle (no hitting or heating the knuckle). Take out the seal boot from the ball joint by using the proper tool. To install, place a new ball joint seal on the ball joint and hold it against the lower control arm with the Receiving Cup, Special Tool MB990891. Set the upper ball joint stud into the steering knuckle and hold it there with the attaching nut. Tighten the castle nut to 102 Nm (75 ft. lbs.) and put the cotter pin in place. Set the yoke back onto the rear hub and bearing, add the washer, then put on the hub nut for now, but don't tighten it fully. Detach the bolts holding the universal joint clamps on the differential and yoke. Use new ones, cleaned ones with thread locker or both. Place the axle shaft back into the car, then add the shock assembly and do not tighten the bolts that connect near the top or bottom of the shock yet. Park on a hill and apply the brakes before tightening the hub nut to 257 Nm (190 ft. lbs.). Place the spring washer, retainer and cotter pin on the rear hub nut on the yoke, put the wheel and tire in place and tighten the wheel mounting nuts in the prescribed sequence up to half specification. After that, tighten them again to the full suggestion of 122 Nm (90 ft. lbs.). Place the vehicle back on the ground and then position it on an alignment rack or drive-on hoist, putting weights in it to reach its correct height. With the suspension in design position, use a torque wrench to tighten each suspension bolt as directed above. Lastly, remove the ballast, bounce the wheel up and down to reach the curb height and check that it is according to specification.