Ball Joints

[Simon]

I put on a new set of tires this last week and decided to have the front end align. At the alignment shop the guy told me the alignment was fine but the bottom ball joints on both sides had about a 1/4 of an inch movement and should be replaced at a tune of $700. 00. My question to the membership, is this normal for a truck with only 60,000 miles and has never been off road?

 

[ray1933]

Had the drivers side ball joints done at 113,000 along with a front brake job. Be sure to have the u-joints checked as both sides on mine were shot. Nothing but brown dust and a few wore out bearings fell out.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

$700. for two ball joints????? i did all 4 in my '94 at approx. $38. each at napa. plus $20 to press them out and the new ones in





























































































4

 

[Extreme1]

$700!?! I'm in the wrong profession!!!

For that money, I'd expect that you are getting all 4 ball joints and 2 new u-joints as well. Unfortunately, you probably aren't.



If you can't or won't do the work yourself, you are stuck. It isn't difficult or tricky to do but you will need a few special tools. Do a search for a thread on this topic. I listed a few details on what you need and what to expect. Your's is a 4x4 so you don't have the "luxury" of having them pressed out. (Not a big enough hammer, ICEMAN?) If you do ANYTHING, do it all (both joints and the u-joint). Most of this cost is labor.



Be sure they use ball joints that are greseable. (NAPA sells the DANA parts) The upper will have to have a straight zirk installed to clear the u-joint but you will need to either buy a tool that can grease it (I have been told one is available) or remove it and install an angled one when you lube it.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

extreme 1,,just looked a lot easier to me to take the steering knuckles to a shop and let them do it with their air hammer

 

[Rockcrusher]

Must be gold plated at that price. Only 60,000? Ever lubed?

I'd go get a "second opinion" quick.

 

[JBoesl]

Your getting robbed at that price.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Simon,



I posted some info on July 13 that may be of some help. I recently replaced my ball joints and my u-joints. Truck had 80K miles and used on moderately off road when U-joint went bad. I replaced ball joints while I was at it so I wouldn't have to get in there again soon. All the instruction and details are listed in my post. I can't remember if I included ball joint replacement part costs but $38 sounds about right for the lower. The upper one is a little cheaper.



Try searching "Steering u-joint" and you should find both posts or seach by date or by name.



Good luck.

 

[Treb]

Had mine done at ~140K in Lexington, KY for only $250 at a tire store. Unfortunately, the shop torqued that main nut with the key in it that holds the hub on so tightly that they stripped the threads. . . now, a year later doing the rotors and at over 170K I was out over $1200 for the whole front right hub assembly and three NAPA breaker bars to get the thing off!!! If you get it done somewhere else, make sure they don't use an impact to torque that nut up!!!!

And if they do, be sure to go smack them around with the air hose when you get the chance. . .

 

[SilverSage]

I recently put a Luke's Link on my track bar (they can replace any ball joint on the truck). The installation was very simple and stright forward (if you use a pickel fork) and I am happy with the results. I paid approximatley $50. 00 including shipping. This thing is repairable and adjustable once installed. The address is www.LUKESLINK.COM. I will be installing one on a friends truck soon and will post photos.

 

[RMidgett]

Decent Ball Joint Source Located (2WD 2500)

I recently located a decently priced source for Moog ball joints in the front suspension of the 2WD 2500 CTD.

http://www.autopartsgiant.com/

1-877-65-GIANT (877-654-4268)



MOOG K7205T [Lower Ball Joint] Enhanced Design; With Independent Front Suspension; 2 Required $60. 18 each



MOOG K7206T

[Upper Ball Joint] Enhanced Design; Independant Front Suspension; 2 Required $37. 85



Good news: shipping is free for orders over $50. 00. This is the best price on the parts I have been able to find, local or on the web. I'm still researching labor rates in middle TN for the job; so far it is a $300. 00+ job for all four.

Thanks for the input to all on the board.



Robin Midgett

 

[jsimpson]

$38 apiece? Mine (Moog) cost me twice that much at my parts house!

 

[DieselDoghouse]

The Moog greaseables I put in were about $70. 00 ea, and were extreme heavy duty. They can be installed at home just be real kind to the axle shafts, I had to move mine to access the nut on the lower joints and am now dealing with a leaky axle seal (they dry out with age). I found that short, straight xerkes fittings will clear the shaft on the upper joints with no problem, and can be greased with a right-angle gun nozzle by canting the shaft so the yokes are diagonal.

 

[RMidgett]

Moog Ball Joints; 2WD vs 4WD

Below is a post from someone else on TDR who did the ball joint tour but on a 4WD; the 4WD joints are apparantly cheaper if you know where to buy them.

Robin



From: "Howard Durand" <hfdurand@televar.com>

To: "Robin Midgett" <robin. midgett@vanderbilt. edu>

Cc: "Robin Midgett" <rmidgett@bellsouth.net>

Subject: Re: Moog ball joints

Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 07:18:12 -0800

X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6. 00. 2600. 0000



Robin,

My truck is a 4WD and the parts sent me by WAP were as follows: two MOO-K8388T @ $25. 86 each and two MOO-K8607T @ $38. 39 each. The shipping was $6. 50. I bought all 4 and the total cost to me was $135. 00

I purchased the Moog ball joints from Warehouse Auto Parts in Redding California. 1-800-655-4492 Check their web site at warehouseautoparts.com.

Hope this helps,

Howard