2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Cost of ball joint installation

[HSpiering]

Went to the shop that is very good on diesel work and got a $1600 price for all four. Then shopped around at a frame and Axel shop and got a price of $800. This was on a 94 4x4. Boy was I surprised at the difference.

 

[keimmmo]

I need to get around to changing my ball joints. I will do my own work. I live close to the biggest auto parts store in central Mexico and the owners are personal friends of mine. They had the ball joints in stock in a generic box. They said they are made by Moog. I paid less than $13 each for them!!!



I know the store buys in HUGE quantities!!! They think nothing of buying a couple of semi-trailer loads of pistons at a time for example!!! They used to sell Chevy pickup balljoints in baggies... they bought genuine GM balljoints in a wooden crate with 1000 lose balljoints inside!!! They dropped the balljoints in a baggie with the cotter pin and grease zerk and sold them for half as much as anyone else charged for off brand stuff!



Steve Keim

 

[JFaughn]

Thats called shipping & handling .
I'ld like to see a lable , unless I have some way of knowing the quality of the parts .
I seems that the packaging is starting to cost more than the stuff in the box , a box of cieal & what a farmer gets .
Its hard to do much because of massive centralization [ large single manufactures -but 100s of brands ] then shipping around the world 3 times , every hand they pass through at least doubles there money , how are we going to pay these high prices , if we no longer have a 1/2 *** job , The RANT is over for now .
So try to give your buis. to the middle priced guy , hes trying to keep his prices down but needs to keep his shop modern , and attract good tallent .

 

[EDembowski]

Just did mine. "They" wanted $600 per side, bought the parts for $200 both sides, purchased a 12ton press for $100 and approx. 2. 5 hrs later, I was done with one side, still have the other side to do. The press was well worth the investment. Probably could have been done sooner but a lot of time was trial and error. Saved myself $900. Easier job than I thought too. Do yourself a favor and stop relying on the shops.

 

[DavidsonM]

i had mine done for $ 300 by a back yard mechanic i guess having the know how and the right tools helps. oh by the way that was only one side.

 

[Clinton]

I bought all four ball joints at Quad 4x4. I'm sure he hasn't gone up too much from whatever the price is on his website. I was able to get the knuckles off fine, but ran into trouble pressing the old ball joints out. After beating one out I took everything to Napa. They got the other three out and pressed in my parts for about $75. I think they charged me for an hour. My local Napa guys are pretty cool. They treat you good if it looks like you made a decent effort.