Need advice!
#1
Need advice!
So I went to good year for an alignment and they said they couldn't do the work because everything was "screwed up". I went in for a $50 alignment and left with a $900+ quote to fix it all. So I was just thinking I could do the work myself? What do y'all think? I'm no mechanic but I know my way around my truck
#2
Senior Member
This happened to my buddy and i hooked him up with a good shop and they did the work for $89 bucks. And im pretty sure you need a computer/machine to align your truck. But if they are talking hubs and ball joints yes that stuff is simple. Just youtube it
#3
Texas A&M Aggie
I've done the ball joints on mine. It's not too bad with the tool you can rent from autozone. If I were you I'd replace the inner and outer tie rod end at the same time. Ntb told me my outer was bad so I replaced it for it to go bad again after a couple months. Figured out that the inner was bad too which is what caused the outer to go bad again. It's all pretty straightforward though. So you should be good to do it at home. I mean if you don't feel comfortable doing the work then definitely have someone else do it. Only do what you're comfortable doing. You know how much you can do.
#6
Cycle For Fun and Health
Many years ago, I worked in a tire shop. Our alignment man would always tell potential customers that their front end was a piece of crap if there was any slack in any of their parts - loose tie rods, ball joints, control arms, etc. in an attempt to sell them on necessary repairs.
I believe that he lost more business because he had no flexibility. He always told them there was no improvement possible until they replaced all worn parts. Most of these potential customers left as they were not ready or able to spend the $$$ he was recommending.
Even with loose parts, adjustments can be made to minimize the tire wear and or people can be advised as to what needs to be repaired first to make the front end more reliable.
It's not all Black or White!!
I believe that he lost more business because he had no flexibility. He always told them there was no improvement possible until they replaced all worn parts. Most of these potential customers left as they were not ready or able to spend the $$$ he was recommending.
Even with loose parts, adjustments can be made to minimize the tire wear and or people can be advised as to what needs to be repaired first to make the front end more reliable.
It's not all Black or White!!
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#9
buy your parts from rockauto.com to save a several bucks and rent/borrow the inner tie rod tool and ball joint press from your local parts store.
rockauto.com prices plus shipping (cheap if everything comes from same warehouse).
lower ball joint $42 motorcraft, $20 moog
inner tie rod $33 motorcraft, $22 moog
rockauto.com prices plus shipping (cheap if everything comes from same warehouse).
lower ball joint $42 motorcraft, $20 moog
inner tie rod $33 motorcraft, $22 moog
#10
Member
Ya ball joints aren't bad just rent the tool from autozone and a 4 wd adapter tool (a smaller cup for the press) if you have 4wd and its not bad. I did mine and found out I needed the adapter after everything was taken apart. So I used a small piece of black pipe and it worked. And ya do all the Bjs at the same time