Now that I think of it, when the truck needed it's first oil change, I had one of the techs install grease fittings in the ball joints. All he had to do was drill out the rivets and install them. I bought him lunch that day and voila I still don't need ball joints.

I'll bet my left nut that was not done on most if these trucks. Serviced the wheel bearings on a regular basis too.

Maintenance is cheaper than buying parts. I learned a little writing service over 20 years.

I do the little things that allows me to afford those dealer parts.