How to remove lower control arm on a 99 durango

Either 18 MM or 21 MM. If they look the same size as the lower control arm bolts. They are 18 MM. Rarely are upper arms changed. Upper ball joints are fairly common.

Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Removal Procedure Tools Required J 43828 Ball Joint Separator

1. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the stabilizer shaft link. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
4. Remove the wiring harness from the lower control arm.




5. Remove the cotter pin (1) from the ball joint (3).
6. Remove the nut (4) from the ball joint (3).



Notice: Use only the recommended tools for separating the ball joint from the knuckle. Failure to use the recommended tools may cause damage to the ball joint and seal.

7. Remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle using the J 43828 .




8. Remove the lower control arm front (1) and rear (4) mounting bolts.
9. Remove the lower control arm (1) from the vehicle and place in a vice.
10. Drill out the 3 rivets (3) retaining the ball joint to the lower control arm (2).
Use a 3 mm (1/8 in) drill bit in order to make a pilot hole through the rivets.
Finish drilling the rivets with a 13 mm (½ in) drill bit.

11. Remove the ball joint (4) from the control arm (2).

Installation Procedure

1. Install the ball joint (4) into the control arm (2).
2. Install the 3 ball joint bolts (3) and the nuts (1). Follow the instructions in the ball joint kit. Tighten the ball joint bolts (3) according to the specifications in the instructions.




3. Install the lower control arm (2) to the front suspension support (1)
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

4. Install the lower control arm front (5) and rear (4) mounting bolts.
Tighten • Tighten the front bolt to 107 N·m (79 lb ft). • Tighten the rear bolt to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).



5. Install the lower ball joint stud (3) to the steering knuckle (2).
6. Install the ball joint stud (3) through the steering knuckle (2).
7. Install the ball joint nut (4).
Tighten
Tighten the ball joint nut to 55 N·m (41 lb ft) plus 180 degree rotation minimum-65 N·m (50 lb ft) plus 180 degree rotation maximum to install the cotter pin.

8. Install the wiring harness to the lower control arm.
9. Install the cotter pin (1).
10. Install the stabilizer link to the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
11. Install the tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
12. Inspect the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.

SAFELY RAISE SUPPORT VECHICLE ON JACK STANDS. MAKE VECHICLE SITTING ON LEVEL SOLID GROUND. REMOVE FRONT WHEELS , REMOVE HEAT SHIELD, IF EQUIPPED WITH 15 INCH WHEELS, REMOVE BALL JOINT CLAMP NUT, REMOVE SWAY BAR TO CONTROL ARM BOLTS, REMOVE STRUT CLEVIS FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, REMOVE SWAY BAR TO CROSSMEMBER BOLTS LOOSEN THEM AND ROTATE THE SWAY BAR AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARM, LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM STEERING KNUCKLE. REMOVE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS. REMOVE CONTROL ARM. DURING INSTALLATION TORQUE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS 120 FT LBS. CONTROL ARM STEERING KNUCLE TORQUE NUT 70 FT LBS.TORQUE SWAY BAR BOLTS 21 FT LBS.

New lower control arms come with bushings and ball joint.

Dodge Durango control arm available here with good quality and affordable price. Have a visit at this link in choosing the best part for your car. http://www.carpartswarehouse.com/carparts/2004/Dodge/Durango/Control_Arm.html

Dear Balljoint Replacer.....
This is a very labor intensive repair.The specialty tools that you need will be an air (or electric) die grinder, and an air hammer.If you already have these then GREAT!!! If not then be prepared to invest in a good $500 purchase for these tools.Once you get the vehicle up in the air and the wheels off then place jackstands underneath the frame and the lower control arms on both sides.Keep in mind to keep the jack stands underneath the lower control arms at all times because your suspension will be under load.Remove the brake calipers from both sides and swing them around and out of the way.....no need to break open the brake system....just swing the caliper and whole hose assy out of the way. Once tis is done its time to loosen and remove both upper and lower balljoint nuts...after that is performed then it's time to shock the spindle with a hammer to release the balljoints from the spindle.Your balljoints will then be ready to be removed.Now you have to take your grinder and score your rivets that hold your balljoints in on both the upper and lower so the top of the rivets are ground down to the control arm.Next take a punch and hammer the rivets in a downward movement to release the rivets and you can remove each balljoint like that.
The new balljoints install with nuts and bolts.Install is reverse of disassembly If you have any questions get back to me...HOPE I COULD HELP!!

This is for the 2WD model:

2-Wheel Drive

1. Raise and support the front of the vehicle safely using jack stands.
   
2. Using an open end wrench, hold the shock absorber upper stem to prevent it from turning, then remove the upper stem retaining nut, the retainer and rubber grommet.
   

Common front shock absorber mounting-2WD vehicles

1. Remove the shock absorber-to-lower control arm retaining bolts and lower the shock absorber assembly from the bottom of the control arm.
   
2. Inspect and test the shock absorber; replace it, if necessary.
   

To install:

1. Fully extend the shock absorber stem, then push it up through the lower control arm and spring so that the upper stem passes through the mounting hole in the upper control arm frame bracket.
   
2. Install the upper shock absorber nut and tighten to 100 inch. lbs. (11 Nm) on 1994 models 145 inch lbs. (16 Nm) on 1995 models, 54 ft. lbs. (73 Nm) on 1996 models, or 106 inch lbs. (12 Nm) on 1997-99 models while holding the stem with an open end wrench. Be careful not to crush the rubber bushing.
   
3. Install the shock absorber-to-lower control arm retaining bolts and tighten to 20 ft. lbs. (27 Nm) on 1994-95 models and 54 ft. lbs. (73 Nm) on 1996 models, or 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) on 1997-99 models.
   
4. Remove the jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle.
   

Front Door

1. Remove the door trim panel.
   
2. Remove the water dam.
   
3. Remove the inner and outer door belt weatherstrips.
   
4. Lower the window to the full down position and align the glass regulator arm with the access holes in the inner door panel.
   
5. Remove the front glass run channel.
   
6. Remove the nuts attaching the glass channel to regulator arm.
   
7. Separate the glass and lift it up and out.
   
8. Disengage the power window motor wire connector from the door harness, if equipped.
   
9. Loosen the bolts in slotted holes attaching regulator to door inner panel.
   
10. Remove the bolts attaching window regulator to inner door panel.
    
11. Remove the regulator through the access hole in the inner door panel.
    
12. Installation is the reverse of removal. Tighten the nuts attaching the glass to the lift plate to 7 ft. lbs. (9 Nm).
    

Power window regulator mounting—Dakota, Durango


Window regulator removal—Dakota, Durango

Posting more on next post for door panel removal and installation.

You should be able to just replace the ball joints, should not need to replace the comntrol arms. Hope this helps

You'll need a joint puller (looks like a big tuning fork). Depending on how it's held on there, you may also need a ring puller, or you may just need to remove the arm and use an impact driver to pound it out. You may even need to replace the whole arm assembly. The uppers on my Tbird are like this.