Lower Ball Joint replacement cost?
04-17-2014, 12:10 PM
#11
My dad's gonna help me do this tomorrow. He suggested that I go ahead and get the Upper Control Arms and shocks while I was at it. Might as well change it all while we're under there. I decided to get the Strut Assembly rather than just the shocks. I ordered everything through Advance Auto because I found some online coupons, and I was able to do an individual order for each item and use a coupon per purchase.
Plus, Moog has a rebate for $10 back off a $75 purchase. I got the Monroe Strut assemblies. They have a rebate where you get a $120 pre-paid Visa card if you order four strut assemblies. My wife needs new struts on her car as well, so I took advantage of that.
Taking into account all rebates, coupons, and cash back (6%) through internet sites, I'll have new lower ball joints, new upper control arms, and new strut assemblies for a grand total of...
$446.49 plus a few hours of my time.
Plus, Moog has a rebate for $10 back off a $75 purchase. I got the Monroe Strut assemblies. They have a rebate where you get a $120 pre-paid Visa card if you order four strut assemblies. My wife needs new struts on her car as well, so I took advantage of that.
Taking into account all rebates, coupons, and cash back (6%) through internet sites, I'll have new lower ball joints, new upper control arms, and new strut assemblies for a grand total of...
$446.49 plus a few hours of my time.
04-17-2014, 12:26 PM
#12
Senior Member
Did you look at the lower ball joints? Are the dust boots all cracked/split, missing? Are you getting that creaking noise in your front suspension ? Those are the sure signs you need new ball joints. The lowers take the brunt of the stress and load, and generally wear out quicker. Ch
-Mike
-Mike
While I appreciate you are trying to help this is not good advice. Ball joints can "appear" to be in good condition with no noticeable noise but be completely or partially worn out.
The only way to tell is to lift up the front and check for play. Play can be minimal and still require replacement as per spec.
When performing an alignment, the ball joints must be within spec or the alignment cannot happen as it will constantly be moving out of spec.
04-17-2014, 01:04 PM
#13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamfisted View Post
Did you look at the lower ball joints? Are the dust boots all cracked/split, missing? Are you getting that creaking noise in your front suspension ? Those are the sure signs you need new ball joints. The lowers take the brunt of the stress and load, and generally wear out quicker. Ch
-Mike
While I appreciate you are trying to help this is not good advice. Ball joints can "appear" to be in good condition with no noticeable noise but be completely or partially worn out.
The only way to tell is to lift up the front and check for play. Play can be minimal and still require replacement as per spec.
When performing an alignment, the ball joints must be within spec or the alignment cannot happen as it will constantly be moving out of spec.
I'd say that advice is helpful, pretty easy to diagnose a ball joint that is squawking or missing part of a boot. It can help, but that symptom isn't always there. That said, I've replaced some that had no noise, etc. but had a significant amount of play in them.
Originally Posted by Hamfisted View Post
Did you look at the lower ball joints? Are the dust boots all cracked/split, missing? Are you getting that creaking noise in your front suspension ? Those are the sure signs you need new ball joints. The lowers take the brunt of the stress and load, and generally wear out quicker. Ch
-Mike
While I appreciate you are trying to help this is not good advice. Ball joints can "appear" to be in good condition with no noticeable noise but be completely or partially worn out.
The only way to tell is to lift up the front and check for play. Play can be minimal and still require replacement as per spec.
When performing an alignment, the ball joints must be within spec or the alignment cannot happen as it will constantly be moving out of spec.
I'd say that advice is helpful, pretty easy to diagnose a ball joint that is squawking or missing part of a boot. It can help, but that symptom isn't always there. That said, I've replaced some that had no noise, etc. but had a significant amount of play in them.
04-17-2014, 02:51 PM
#14
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamfisted View Post
Did you look at the lower ball joints? Are the dust boots all cracked/split, missing? Are you getting that creaking noise in your front suspension ? Those are the sure signs you need new ball joints. The lowers take the brunt of the stress and load, and generally wear out quicker. Ch
-Mike
While I appreciate you are trying to help this is not good advice. Ball joints can "appear" to be in good condition with no noticeable noise but be completely or partially worn out.
The only way to tell is to lift up the front and check for play. Play can be minimal and still require replacement as per spec.
When performing an alignment, the ball joints must be within spec or the alignment cannot happen as it will constantly be moving out of spec.
I'd say that advice is helpful, pretty easy to diagnose a ball joint that is squawking or missing part of a boot. It can help, but that symptom isn't always there. That said, I've replaced some that had no noise, etc. but had a significant amount of play in them.
Originally Posted by Hamfisted View Post
Did you look at the lower ball joints? Are the dust boots all cracked/split, missing? Are you getting that creaking noise in your front suspension ? Those are the sure signs you need new ball joints. The lowers take the brunt of the stress and load, and generally wear out quicker. Ch
-Mike
While I appreciate you are trying to help this is not good advice. Ball joints can "appear" to be in good condition with no noticeable noise but be completely or partially worn out.
The only way to tell is to lift up the front and check for play. Play can be minimal and still require replacement as per spec.
When performing an alignment, the ball joints must be within spec or the alignment cannot happen as it will constantly be moving out of spec.
I'd say that advice is helpful, pretty easy to diagnose a ball joint that is squawking or missing part of a boot. It can help, but that symptom isn't always there. That said, I've replaced some that had no noise, etc. but had a significant amount of play in them.
FWIW a torn boot does not mean the ball joint is bad. A torn boot can be replaced if the joint is not worn yet.
