New gal here with ball joint issues!
11-17-2007, 06:13 PM
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New gal here with ball joint issues!
Hi all.
Annie here from Florida here.
Hubby and I just got a 2001 F-150 King Ranch. With 4 Labs and a Bully dog a truck was a must.
Love the truck, but just had a shockeroo when we went to get it aligned.
$1200 bucks worth of shock actually.
Paid cash for the truck so this is a bit uncomfortable for the old budget to say the least and I am wondering if this sounds right.
I am not questioning if it needs to be done as I can certainly tell something is going on due to a pull to the right and a slightly noticeable rotating type noise from the front end.
Here is the estimate info:
Replace ball joint front/upper both sides
Replace ball joint front/lower both sides
Idler arm
four tie rod end
Labor 616
Parts 420
supplies 63
plus tax etc
This is not a regular mechanic but a tire shop.
I figure the hourly rate is better there, but wonder if anyone has any ideas on saving money on this fix.
Hubby is NOT handy
I guess what I am asking is...does this price sound typical, and would it be a waste of my time to go get another estimate or should I just make a few sacrifices and fork over the cash.
We plan on doing the work next week so any thoughts before then would be appreciated.
Annie
Annie here from Florida here.
Hubby and I just got a 2001 F-150 King Ranch. With 4 Labs and a Bully dog a truck was a must.
Love the truck, but just had a shockeroo when we went to get it aligned.
$1200 bucks worth of shock actually.
Paid cash for the truck so this is a bit uncomfortable for the old budget to say the least and I am wondering if this sounds right.
I am not questioning if it needs to be done as I can certainly tell something is going on due to a pull to the right and a slightly noticeable rotating type noise from the front end.
Here is the estimate info:
Replace ball joint front/upper both sides
Replace ball joint front/lower both sides
Idler arm
four tie rod end
Labor 616
Parts 420
supplies 63
plus tax etc
This is not a regular mechanic but a tire shop.
I figure the hourly rate is better there, but wonder if anyone has any ideas on saving money on this fix.
Hubby is NOT handy
I guess what I am asking is...does this price sound typical, and would it be a waste of my time to go get another estimate or should I just make a few sacrifices and fork over the cash.
We plan on doing the work next week so any thoughts before then would be appreciated.
Annie
11-17-2007, 06:36 PM
#2
Senior Member
It's been about 10years ago, but I had all ball joints replaced for about $450 for everything. I guess I'm saying the quote seems a bit on the high side - but looking at a difference in vintages, additional parts for yours, and a 10year ago price.
May try scoping out the parts prices online - rockauto.com and lmctruck.com are decent resources. Keep in mind the garage needs to make a living, they aren't your best bud coming over to help out for a few beers.
Labor charge just 'feels' high - not sure what current shop rates are. Perhaps get a second quote from another garage??? It would be interesting at any rate to see if they identify the same parts as needing replacement.
May try scoping out the parts prices online - rockauto.com and lmctruck.com are decent resources. Keep in mind the garage needs to make a living, they aren't your best bud coming over to help out for a few beers.
Labor charge just 'feels' high - not sure what current shop rates are. Perhaps get a second quote from another garage??? It would be interesting at any rate to see if they identify the same parts as needing replacement.
11-17-2007, 06:45 PM
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yes, it seemed a bit high to me as well, but I don't know enough to be able to judge.
It was something in the way things were explained to me that didn't sit right with me, cant put a finger on it, but I kinda felt he was justifying the charges before I ever questioned them...making me question them!
To be honest though, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is a typical price. Pretty much my luck, and although hubby didn't take this well at all, I figured that this happens sometimes when you get a used car/truck, and I was kinda prepared that there might be a few things to deal with.
Just don't want to be that silly woman going in with no clue.
In our house, its the woman (me ) who does this stuff so I need to make sure I know whats what as hubby certainly doesn't!
Its ok though, we all have our strengths right?
Thanks for the input,
Annie
It was something in the way things were explained to me that didn't sit right with me, cant put a finger on it, but I kinda felt he was justifying the charges before I ever questioned them...making me question them!
To be honest though, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is a typical price. Pretty much my luck, and although hubby didn't take this well at all, I figured that this happens sometimes when you get a used car/truck, and I was kinda prepared that there might be a few things to deal with.
Just don't want to be that silly woman going in with no clue.
In our house, its the woman (me
) who does this stuff so I need to make sure I know whats what as hubby certainly doesn't!Its ok though, we all have our strengths right?
Thanks for the input,
Annie
11-17-2007, 07:13 PM
#4
Senior Member
I guess I fall more towards the pessimistic side, and look at a used vehicle purchase as 'buying someone elses headache'.
Too late now, but it's a always a good idea for the not-so mechanically inclined to have a shop look over a potential purchase, even if it costs $50 or so. Also is good to have a shop where a relationship has been developed over time to build that level of trust.
Yeah, it's going to be a bite in the shorts to get over this. But you've got a solid truck with a good reputation that should yield many miles of trouble-free driving, once you get it back up to snuff.
Too late now, but it's a always a good idea for the not-so mechanically inclined to have a shop look over a potential purchase, even if it costs $50 or so. Also is good to have a shop where a relationship has been developed over time to build that level of trust.
Yeah, it's going to be a bite in the shorts to get over this. But you've got a solid truck with a good reputation that should yield many miles of trouble-free driving, once you get it back up to snuff.
11-17-2007, 07:19 PM
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True true, but for us, we could get more truck used than we ever could new, and although I hate to spend this money, I still feel like I came out ahead in the long run.
The truck was looked over, but only the engine. Silly me didnt think of things like suspension etc...but even with this issue, I would have still bought it, we got it well under blue book so i am not at all regretful.
Like I said, I already love "my" truck
And so do the dogs!
Labs and trucks just go together like PB and J.
Annie
(Who is still going to get a second opinion, but is now braced for the reality of this)
The truck was looked over, but only the engine. Silly me didnt think of things like suspension etc...but even with this issue, I would have still bought it, we got it well under blue book so i am not at all regretful.
Like I said, I already love "my" truck
And so do the dogs!
Labs and trucks just go together like PB and J.
Annie
(Who is still going to get a second opinion, but is now braced for the reality of this)
