2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front end alignment work

[ABarrey]

Hey everybody, Happy 4th, I just took my truck in to check out wheel alignment as I got new tires and had some uneven wear on right side. they quoted me to change out upper and lower ball joints, right front U joint, front trac arm, rear sway arm links and tie rod to pitman rod. before they do the alignment. Supposed to be a real good alignment shop, but the quote for labor and all was around $2250. I'm not a mechanic but I looked up some of the parts-like Moog K7394 upper Ball joints and they were only $88. 00 versus their estimate of $200. 00 each. They were busy so might of messed up a little, but just wondering if this sounds reasonable for a 2002 with almost 300,000 miles? I did have the right U joint changed at 148,000 by schwab.

Any one have experience here??

Thanks.

 

[cerberusiam]

Sounds a bit excessive. The whole BJ set can be had for around $350, not Moog but better. Track bar can be expensive, lots of labor to dis-assemble all the pieces.

 

[DavidC]

Moog use to be top of the line at one time. Who is there now ?. I have not needed front end parts in a long time so kinda out of the loop on this now. Kind of glad I drilled and put grease fittings in when the truck was new.

Dave

 

[cerberusiam]

Carli, DynaTrac and Spicer rebuildables are the top of the line. The Raybestos Professional Grade (McQuay-Norris HD) is between them and the Moog, XRF, others.

 

[JR]

unfortunately some of those are not available for the 2nd gens. There just isn't the market out there for the 2nd gens like there is the 3rd gens I had a set of spicers installed in my previous 00 and 60k later they were trashed. I reluctantly went with the MOOG problem solvers on my 98 because of the lifetime warranty and availability. They were all I ever put on my 4x4s previously and held up to A LOT of abuse but shyed away from them on my CTD due to all the negative feedback I've heard. We shall see how they hold up.

Much of what the shop quoted you is in labor, there is a good bit of work involved in dismantling the front end to the degree you need. They are probably are taxing you on the parts as well. If there is another reputable shop in your area you could always get another opinion.

 

[VolsFan]

I dont think the 2250 sounds too out of line for all the work being done, especially if its all 4 balljoints. Im sure its the last thing you want to hear after just putting money into new tires, but better off getting the front end done before it trashes them. If it is a reputable alignment shop that is familiar with dodge rams I would say stick with them, it is hard to find an alignment shop that actually knows what they are doing on a stock truck, never mind one with a lift and an adjustable track bar. Doing tie rods is not too bad, but bulk of labor will be in ball joints and the u joint. Of course the shop is going to have their mark up, cant blame them for that, thats kind of like bringing your own steak to a steak house to be grilled. Not trying to be smart, but I have customers all the time trying to get me to use their own parts they got cheap(plumbing not trucks) and end up finding parts are missing or they dont fit at all and it costs me another trip, so I dont even deal with that nonsense anymore. Also, at 300k, have you had any front end issues besides the u-joint you had replaced? no hub assemblies? No tie rods? If not, thats great, it is well past the time to get them done

 

[cerberusiam]

I looked up some of the parts-like Moog K7394 upper Ball joints and they were only $88. 00 versus their estimate of $200. 00 each.

Unless they are using DynaTrac's that is suspect, $800 for all 4 is top of the line stuff. The problem being it makes everything else suspect also. It needs clarified and explained to the OP so he is comfortable.

 

[ABarrey]

Thanks everyone-this site is the best-so much shared experience and advice. I checked around with some local guys and mechanics and it looks like these guys are the best-even if a little spendy.
I want to get it done well and right the first time, and it sounds like I'm way ahead of the game already-lots of posts here about replacing this stuff even after 30-40,000 miles.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

It's a bunch of money, but remember the price you found for the balljoints is the best deal you could find. The shop isn't looking for the best deal they can find, they're buying from the parts shop where they get all their parts, where they have a charge account and get delivery and warranty. Then they're marking up the parts, probably double.



If a ball joint fails after they install it, they're going to take the truck apart for free and replace the part for free. If you buy the joints online (or wherever) install them yourself and one fails, you get to do the job over again yourself.



In 30 years of car ownership, I've probably paid to have a car fixed about 10 times. And that's at least double what it was before I had to deal with a wife's car and kids cars like I do now. I'm too cheap to pay 100% markups on parts store prices and $100 per hour labor. And there are very few people I trust to do work worth the price. OTOH, I know how to do the work, have done it many times before and have thousands of dollars invested in tools and equipment. I recently redid the front end in my truck. It was a hell of a lot of hot, sweaty, dirty work, and my wife asked me why I didn't pay to get it done. I told her I had about $400 in parts plus a day under the truck, vs $1200 in labor and $1200 in parts at a shop. I asked her if she could think of anything better to do with $2000 than pay someone to do a job I can do just fine on my own.



So if you can't do the work yourself (no shame in that!), find the best shop to do it and pay the price. Sounds like that's where you're going. An honest, capable mechanic (or pretty much anything else) is hard to find and worth the price.



later

kevin

 

[ABarrey]

Thanks Kevin, I agree. I had the work done and am very pleased so far. they explained the same thing about guaranteed work and such but did split the difference on the ball joints for me.
Great family owned company and if anyone ever needs work done in southern Oregon I'd suggest Henderson's Lineup in Grants Pass. They specialize in RV work also.
Check out their website at: http://www.hendersonslineup.com/
I guess they had a heck of a time getting the hubs off-sounds normal for these trucks.

 

[DavidHook]

Trivia time ? ...

Here's a recent quote (7/20/2013) I received to change out the ball joints both upper and lower, that were discovered to be worn out @ 90K+ on a recent safety check tire rotation schedule.

Upper B. J. p/n MK7448 unit price ea. $121. 99

Lower B. J. p/n MK7467 ea. @ $133. 99, total parts = 511. 96

Front end alignment $70. 00,

Shop labor $105 hr = $420. 00

Total = 1001. 96

Lessons learned? Parts are approx 100% mark up from their vendors to you the customer.

Suggestions? Shop on the internet, (or) shop your local parts stores directly to save the mark up routine.

Since My time is just as valuable as the shops, It's probably more cost effective for me to let them do the work and me provide the parts so I can be off doing what I do best... .

It's all part of the big truck ownership right?