Ball joint help.

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Terri9630

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All right y'all... The passenger side top ball joint on my truck is going out. The shop said $750 to replace both the upper and lower one and an alignment. The guy said that its best to buy the top ball joint with the A frame because if you replace just the ball joint it can pop out if you hit a bump in the road wrong. I'd think that you couldn't buy the ball joint alone if that was the case.

Have any of y'all ever heard of such a thing? The upper and lower ball joints run from $40to $80 bucks depending on brand but the joint with the A frame is $250.
 
I called a couple of shops and the dealer and all of them said they had never heard of a press in ball joint popping out. They had heard of some screw in joints popping out because of damaged or worn threads.
 
About $120 for the ballpoints themselves which are bolt on. Not likely to pop out... about 350.00 for upper and lower arms and that’s Napa not rock auto which is likely cheaper. Guess it depends on the market.
 
Only exception Meerkat is thats on a 4 wheel drive. Terrie said its 2 wheel which would actually be easier. No front axles to deal with.

Good catch Guardian. :thumbs: Also good to see you back here.
 
I already watched that video along with several others meerkat. That's why I called the shop. Hubby is out of town for a bit and I don't want to try that on my own. I'd probably end up squishing myself somehow.
 
Good catch Guardian. :thumbs: Also good to see you back here.

Meerkat, I’m here pretty much everyday but not much going on so mainly read since I don’t have a lot to say lol....

I already watched that video along with several others meerkat. That's why I called the shop. Hubby is out of town for a bit and I don't want to try that on my own. I'd probably end up squishing myself somehow.

I suppose it really depends how severely worn they are Terri. They don’t typically fail immediately so maybe just nurse it along till hubby returns or see if you can get better pricing somewhere.
 
Meerkat, I’m here pretty much everyday but not much going on so mainly read since I don’t have a lot to say lol....



I suppose it really depends how severely worn they are Terri. They don’t typically fail immediately so maybe just nurse it along till hubby returns or see if you can get better pricing somewhere.

Well I have too much to say, lol. But take breaks at times.
 
Meerkat, I’m here pretty much everyday but not much going on so mainly read since I don’t have a lot to say lol....



I suppose it really depends how severely worn they are Terri. They don’t typically fail immediately so maybe just nurse it along till hubby returns or see if you can get better pricing somewhere.

I only found out about it because my tire was turned out and when I walked past I noticed the outside of my tire was almost worn down to the belts. The inside still looks almost new. The guy at the tire shop told me the top ball joint was going. I can't feel anything when I drive. ORileys said they have the upper with the control arm for $133 and the lower for $35.
 
Is it a local, Mom n Pop shop, or a chain like NTB? National chains will screw you both in hourly labor costs, and in doing unnecessary work...

I'd get an opinion from somebody you really trust, if you have somebody like that available. It's been a few years since I priced ball joints, but I recall it being $350, although that was on a small car, not a truck...
 
We just paid $700 for ball joints from the dealer. They were $320 from napa. Did them myself. Price is not out of line.
 
That is one of the jobs that take the proper tools and skills and time to get done. I have found that the older you get the more tools you need to save the time you don't have. Like SD said find a local M&P shop that has a solid reputation and go there. Remember the markup in price on parts and labor is also the charge for the warranty that the job is done right and if there is a failure either in parts (now days with even dealership expensive parts failing)you have some recourse it's not all on you.
 
I had an 04 like yours always got the parts from Rock auto, it takes about an hour per side to install them if you have done it before. If you decide to buy the parts yourself get the ones that can be lubed and lube them about every 10,000 miles and they will last a LOT longer.
 
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