[Pavement Tested]

Root question: For IFS trucks, are the upper and lower control arms interchangeable between early 2nd gen ('94 thru '99) 3500's and later 2nd gens ('00-'02)?

I have an '01 with IFS and it has the original riveted in ball joints. I have a friend that has a '97 with IFS that's his donor truck for another project and it has press in ball joints.

Seems the early 2500 and 3500 trucks had the same IFS with press in ball joints then in '00 they went to the riveted ball joints. What was the reason for this? Is there something better about the riveted in setup than the press in?

I don't think there's a difference dimensionally between the 2 setups but would like to know for certain if they can be swapped. There are a few reasons for swapping but mostly I don't want to fuss around with cutting out the rivets for my old bj's.

 

[bigfish95971]

Look the part numbers on Rockauto and compare, They will be the same or not.

 

[Pavement Tested]

Look the part numbers on Rockauto and compare, They will be the same or not.

Go back and read my post again then tell me if you think what you wrote makes any sense.

Sorry for being abrupt.

 

[bigfish95971]

Sorry, Cannot say which is better, In looking them up it appears that they are available both with and without ball joints and press in and lock ring may be replacement for the fitted in. At Rockauto It appears that the 2500 and 3500 may have different control arms. As far as riveted vs not, I would guess the if the ball is the same size the internals are the same quality on OEM if Dodge used the smae vnedr for them. Most parts are vender made for all trucks. You can buy any of them with or without ball joint for 79 to 200 dollars each depending on brand and fit. They have several bands of each.

 

[Pavement Tested]

@bigfish95971 Maybe you're just not understanding what I'm asking.

1994-1999 2500 and 3500 IFS is identical and have pressed in ball joints
2000-2002 2500 and 3500 IFS is identical and have riveted ball joints
Visually, except for the balljoints, the control arms are the same between all years to the point that the take the same bushings, mounting hardware, shocks, etc.

I don't care about brands or with/without bj's or prices.

Will the '94-'99 control arms fit '00-'02? I believe they will but would like confirmation before tearing apart 2 trucks.

Why did Dodge go to the riveted in bj's? Are they better? Why?

 

[bigfish95971]

I do not know they changed or did both. I did see that replacements for both with ball joints have different part numbers for the 3500, now it may be just for 11000lb axle ratings but I do not know if there was other options on diesels, It did not list any others. Maybe at your tire shop or dealer you can find a guy that has done front end work for 25 years that can help. Good luck.
I doubt there is any difference in basic quality, I do not know about 2x4 but 4x4 ball joints are always limited life on these trucks.
May I ask why you want 25 year old control arms, is it just because the you want the press in ball joints?

 

[Pavement Tested]

May I ask why you want 25 year old control arms, is it just because the you want the press in ball joints?

25 yo OEM control arms are better than new chinesium control arms (verified during the front end rebuild of my '94 2500 RWD) and I would like to get away from the riveted ball joints. I know the replacements utilize bolts in the place of rivets (I have a replacement set of Moog's in hand) but I'm still struggling to see the benefits of them over pressed in.

Another potential issue is correcting roll center. The truck is lowered 3" in the front and I don't know if it's solely from lowering it or if the bad ball joints (127k miles, original) accentuate it but I don't like some of the angles that have resulted. However, I don't believe that Belltech would sell a kit that put components on the suspension in a position to catastrophically fail without having a solution.

 

[bigfish95971]

Well looks like you are experimenting with any way you go because of the lowering. I guess nobody makes anything specialized for 2x4 lowering like they do for 4x4 lifting with dozens of choices. If everything measures out the same exactly I can not see a problem what ever you do. With new ball joints and bushings they are just forged steel. But they are different part numbers so I do not know if the is one difference in something like thickness or something. I assume the "friends" parts are free, or I would use new.

 

[Pavement Tested]

Well looks like you are experimenting with any way you go because of the lowering. I guess nobody makes anything specialized for 2x4 lowering like they do for 4x4 lifting with dozens of choices. If everything measures out the same exactly I can not see a problem what ever you do. With new ball joints and bushings they are just forged steel. But they are different part numbers so I do not know if the is one difference in something like thickness or something. I assume the "friends" parts are free, or I would use new.

Belltech is literally the only place I was able to find the lowering parts. The front is just shorter springs. Nothing else was changed so fitment of the control arms is no different.

Yeah, the '97 parts are free. He's making a dually out of his SRW 2500 for fun so once he has what he needs for his project it's going to the wrecking yard.