BALL JOINTS 2wd

[Dick Langendorff]

My truck has 220,000 miles. 2004 2wd auto CC.
Just replaced 4 tires with 90,000 on them and the shop said there was a lot of play in the ball joints.
As a DIY, how difficult is this to do? The shop wants $1200.00.

Any and all comments welcome.

Thanks,

Dick

 

[p-Bar]

I did it my self it would be a day job for you. the uppers you have to by whole new control arm with the balljoint. The lowers I tried doing it in place with using the tool got one side couldn't get the other had to take it off and go to machine shop to press it in.

 

[Crunch]

I got mine done a year ago. Took it to a local shop that specializes in front ends and suspension. It cost me $1700, but I needed more than the ball joints replaced. I also needed tie rods and the sway bar, so I thought it was a good price after shopping around. Even if you do it yourself you will need a front end alignment afterwards, so at least get a full inspection of your front end before deciding what to do. It would suck to do the ball joints yourself and then find you need other parts replaced afterward.

 

[Dick Langendorff]

Thanks for the replys. Maybe the $1200 wasn't all that bad. Will make a decision soon.

Thanks again.

 

[CKESSEL]

It took me around 8 hours start to finish to do mine. Figure 100-150 an hour for shop labor, 1200 is in the park. One thing I could not do on mine was the bushings. I had a friend that works at a dealer use the Miller Special Tools factory prices to swap out the bushings and joints on the lowers. I don't have a press in my garage to use and didn't want to squish the arms putting the bushings in. I put in upper arms, lower bushings and joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links and frame bushings. One thing to watch for. I ordered my stuff off of Rock Auto. Their listing for the bushings, which comes from the manufactures of the parts, is wrong. They show the front and rear bushing as being the same size. NOT! To get the correct one, the smaller one, you have to get it from Mopar. Its a straight forward job, basic hand tools, floor jack for the lower arms, stands etc.

 

[SSage]

They make loaded lower control arms too, at 200K you may want to install new arms with fresh ball joints and bushings. Then its just a bolt on affair mostly, you still need to have a ball joint spreader, pickle fork thing and probably a nice HD 2 leg puller. When I was shopping for control arms, Amazon and Rock Auto had the best prices. Just look for the Premium type Raybestos or Moog Problem Solver lines, otherwise the ball joints are really cheap junk. On my old 2nd gen I couldn't find loaded control arms with good components, just the cheap stuff, so I rebuilt mine with XRF and Mopar stuff. Total pain in the butt. If you do the work, Advanced Auto Parts had the best loner tools. A decent 6" puller, 23 piece ball joint press etc.

But on a 2wd I don't think its worth paying $1200 at a shop if you have the time. You need an impact gun though, large socket set if you do bearings probably. Probably could use loaner tools from an auto parts store. I know my local Advanced Auto loans the large 3/4 drive sockets or axle sockets and various specialty tools. Get a GOOD pickle fork or ball joint spreader, the cheap ones don't last.

 

[Dick Langendorff]

My oldest son said he would do it. He is the lead mech. for the city he lives in. He has a Snap On tool box that you would probably stall many trucks trying to pull it. He will order the parts and complete the job. I will have to take it somewhere for the alignment.
Thanks for all of the replys and suggestions.

 

[rashwor]

FWIW, when I had mine done ($1300), we went back with greasable ball joints and outer tie rod ends. Greased for life is a bunch of hoooie.