I have just under 105K miles on my '03 F-350, which I bought used w/ 62K on the clock. I have been starting to hear a clunk in the front end of my truck, not when I first apply the brakes and not every time. I just replaced front calipers, and pads and rotors on all four corners so it shouldn't be the brakes. I'm thinking it's time to do the ball joints.

I've priced the NAPA Premiums at about $115 a side for upper and lower ball joints while Moogs are running around $120 a set. The cost difference is low enough to be moot, and when I do them it will be all of them at once.

I can't be certain but I think that these are the original unit bearings on the truck. At over 100K miles from what I've read on here I have had fairly long life out of them, and I'd like opinions on replacing them while the front end is torn down. I've looked into the cost of replacing the unit bearings while I've got everyting apart. NAPA has Federal-Mogul for $384 each and Advance has BCA Natl. for $330 each. The guy at Advance is not 100% sure but thinks that the BCA's are USA made while NAPA assures me that F-M is made here. The cheap (most likely Chinese made) unit bearings are around $235 each, but I think I'd rather go with USA made parts.

So here's the question: Assuming that I replace unit bearings when I do the ball joints, is it worth dropping about $2K for a Dynatrac Free Spin kit instead of just using quality replacement unit bearings? I do have a snow plow that I use to do a few friends and neighbors but do not do commercial plowing. I'm not a hard core off roader but I do plan on keeping this truck for another 15 years or so if possible. In that time span I estimate that I would need to replace unit bearings two or three times. I would loose the ESOF hubs(replaced by Warn Premium hubs in the kit) but would still have the transfer case run off the dash switch.

Does anyone have the Dynatrac kit on their truck? How do you like it? Any issues with it? As always, any input or opinions are appreciated...

 

I was in the same boat as you a year ago. I replaced all ball joints, u-joints in axle shafts, and brakes.
My truck ('03 f250 4x4) had abot 160,000 miles then, I didn't replace the unit bearings then, I priced replacements and the Dynatrac kit. The bearings on my truck were still tight, no strange noises, etc, so i didn't replace. Can't justify Dynatracs price for the kit, $2000 that seemes outrageous.
The unitbearings are still ok, plan on replacing them this summer along with tires and shocks.

My truck still does have a clunk in the front end, but it is the sway bar bushings on the axle.