Front Knuckle joints

I am about to replace the badly worn knuckle joints on the front of my '89 Ramcharger. Is there any special tools needed or tips I will need to know? Also should I replace my fulltime lockouts with manuals?

If you've done ball joints before, there's no surprises. The upper joint uses a castle nut looking thing (that needs a special socket) that threads into the axle housing and adjusts the ?caster?, anyway you could theoretically just leave the nut (the stud will just come right out of it while the nut is still in place) and replace just the ball joint. Manual hubs rock, I put 'em on and they work fine. Also while you're in there that deep, just replace all seals and bearings. It's totally worth it. You'll kick yourself later if you don't.
It'll look something like this about the time you start getting tired:



Oh, see the 24 oz. hammer under the drop light? You'll use a lot of that.
Good luck,
Mike

hey dude,
im all for manual hubs ther're the best but because u had automatic ones that means u have a dana 44 with a two piece axel and a splined coller that slide over both pieces to "lock in" the front, you'll want to replace that axel with a 1 piece unit its stronger. as for the u joints if you change them yourself be carful not to bend the ears on the axles! a press is the best thing if u have acess to one.