I just brought my truck to a Ford dealership for a recall, 11s18 clock spring harness which was no cost. They called to tell me it was done and that they did a multi-point inspection and said that the lower ball joints where not to spec. I told them to go ahead and do it.
Total cost was $629.62 with alignment.
What do you think of the price?
The truck is my primary means of transportation for my daughter and I, and my work truck for my painting business. I couldn't tie my truck up shopping for a better price and losing time at work. I think I would have ended up spending more than I would have saved not being able to have the truck for work.
Thanks for the help!
It's done, but just curious

 

Whoa . . . I wouldn't have expected it to be that high. Considering the BJs themselves are quite inexpensive, that seems like a lot of labor for something that should take a shop no more than 2 hours at the most. I asked for quotes on my UCA and lower BJs last time I went in, but they said mine were still tight as a rock, so I don't have any figures for you.

Edit: alldatadiy.com says 2.8 hours for both sides @ $120/hour, Moog Problem Solver BJs (which your dealer can indeed get and install for you) 2x @ $21 each, and $80-100 for alignment:

2.8x$120 = $352 + $42 + $100 = $494

Nearly all dealerships, shops, mechanics, etc. use alldatadiy for their labor estimates, so I'd say they overcharged by at a little over $100 (allowing for higher-priced MotorCraft BJs and/or other added costs). And even worse, the manufacturer's warranty only covers 2 hours of labor, which is in line with how long I thought it should take. Who knows, but I showed how I got to my values.

 

A dealer isn't going to sell you Moog ball joints and pass them through at Rock Auto's price with no markup. MC is $47, then add markup. Based on 2.8 hours per side, plus an alignment...that math technically works. He paid the correct price for that service.

Whether its worth it or not is another story. And I always scratch my head at All Data's labor quotes...5 1/2 hours for two lowers is excessive if you're a DIY with no lift and a messy garage, including beer and bathroom breaks.

 

I had to do a double take but I believe KMAC meant 2.8 hours to do both BJs or 1.4 per side. Its funny this thread just came up because I was thinking about my upper and lower BJs. They've never been replaced as far as I know, how can I check them for signs of wear and in need of replacing? Sorry I'm not trying to thread jack here.

 

Jack the front-end off the ground. Take the wheel off. Use a pry-bar to see if the BJ has any give. In my experience with all the Ford F150's I've owned over the years, that BJ's last about 100-150k miles.

 

You can also leave the wheel on and wiggle it hard it in all directions to see if there is any play. Easier to feel IMO.

I ran up 225k miles on my 2002 on the original ball joints, a lot of that on bad pavement and unpaved mountain roads. Never had a problem. They outlasted my bearings, cv joints, heck even had a sway bar link rust through and snap off but ball joints were still soild.

 

It's 2.8 for BOTH, not each. It's 1.5 for a single side, but slightly less for both together for some reason, maybe due to rounding issues. If it were 5.6 in total, they'd be over the price he paid just for the labor, and the bill would've been in excess of $800. I did my math properly And the "mark up" is why I added room for a little extra. But I'm not sure where you've been going, cause my dealer has been cheaper on MC parts than even Tasca.

I've never had a problem with Alldata's labor quotes. And considering that 95+% of shops in this country have to use those same, generic, standard times for labor, you can't argue with them haha.

 

Just did the lower ball joints and hub bearing on Monday, purchased parts from Napa
145 each on hub bearings, and 78 for pair of lower ball joints

Firestone wanted 530.00 labor for lower ball joints
Firestone wanted 400.00 labor for hub bearing

I got separate labor cost, cause I was there two times in one day.

 

Considering I spent almost $900 in 2009 to have my 2004's lower ball joints replaced that is a good deal. Mechanic friend did it, $500 some for the parts ( replaceable control arm ) and rest was labor. Pissed me off. Never again will I get service done without looking it up thoroughly.

 

Or, less than $100.00 in parts, and do it yourself.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...986&cc=1432397

http://www.f150forum.com/f12/replaci...150-4wd-18731/


I love how any time the dealer gets my truck in the bay, their multi-point inspection finds about a thousand dollars of "necessary repairs" work to do.

 

So you had your entire LCAs replaced? Only the uppers have built in ball joints it is easier to just replace the entire LCA than it is to change the ball joints on them though haha.

 

Just a thought...I use a mobile mechanic, who ended becoming a friend of mine, to do the things I don't feel like doing or feel confident doing. He comes to me, $45 an hour plus a $20 trip fee. Whatever time AllData says a job takes, he abides by. He's ASE, and I've been using him for 4 years now, referred so many people to him in that time...maybe a dozen or so. He doesn't even advertise at all anymore. Everyone loves the guy- half my wife's colleagues use him, our dentist, my brother, neighbor, etc.

They are out there if you can land one. You supply the parts, they do it right there at your home. He lets me hang all over the job and learn- I've gotten more brave and bold over the years, learned some things...saved a TON of money and as a result get more little repairs done more often instead of letting things go.

Hard part I guess is making that trust connection. But now, after watching him, I have done control arms on the wife's ride, all new front end on my son's XJ, and will do my own BJ's when time. I had almost my whole front end done- all but LCA's- for just over $500 with parts.

I just can't spend the dough with 3 teenagers and 4 vehicles...good luck!

 

I would say it was a fair price for what was done but i have my doubts that your vehicle was repaired correctly. first off 80% of the time the upper control arms will fail before the lower ball joints will. the is an all .8mm of deflection on 2006 ford lower ball joint while there is only allowed spec of .2 mm ball joint deflection on upper balljoints/control arms. i would question the technician directly on his "specs" to see if actuall measurements were even takin and check your invoice to see if the specs and actuall were put on the story. then i would ask if the upper ball joints/control arms were measured. then it is 2.8hrs for both sides so say that's 340 + say 140 in parts and alignment at 150 then ad taxs, shop supplies, disposal fees etc.

 

Thanks everyone.
There is no spec on the invoice for the upper or lower ball joints.

The Invoice is:
Replace both lower ball joints and tighten bolts on left upper control arm ( they were loose I was told) 4.10 hrs @87.95 = 360.60
Ball joints cost 2 @ 93.68 + 187.36
Wheel alignment set caster camber and toe inspect shocks struts tire wear and related steering and suspension .80 hrs = 49.95

Labor 410.55
parts 187.36
shop supplies 20.00
sales tax 11.71
total 629.62

 

I did BJs in December. I had about 123,000 miles and a really bad upper BJ. Decided to do all 4 BJs and control arm bushings, tie rod ends, and stabilizer bar links.

All parts (Moog) ordered from Rockauto = $307
Except for 2 tie rod ends at O'Reilys
Lower Control Arm Bushings service/press = $150

I also added some new alignment bolts from Ford...... these were expensive as hell. I don't have the cost available but I think they were about $50/each even from Tasca. There was no way to adjust/align lower control arms after pulling to replace the bushings without adding alignment bolts. There are some cheaper aftermarket kits/options...... but the lower control arm bolts were somewhat degraded and needed replacing in my opinion. I liked the Ford bolt option the best ...... they are just ridiculously priced.

I did all the work myself, except, I spend about $150 to have a shop remove and press new bushings into the lower control arms. These bushings are not necessary to change unless worn. I just did 'em while I was doing everything else for insurance in not having to touch the front end again in the next 100,000 to 150,000 ....... or as long as possible. The lower control arm bushings are a bear. I would suggest just bitting the bullet and replacing lower control arms (with bushings included). They are not something you will do in the driveway.

Then ....... there was the alignment at then end. I had a couple of other things done so its hard to break that cost out exactly.

All in ........... parts, bushing press, alignment bolts, alignment ..... about $750 - $800
(this is pretty much a complete front end rebuild)

At the same time I added 4 new Goodyear Duratac tires...... one alignment.
I brought wheels to have tires mounted while I was doing front end rebuild.

Anyway...... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

2006 FORD F-150 5.4L V8 SOHC
MOOG K80149 Ball Joint $ 19.12 $ 0.00 2 $ 38.24
MOOG K80338 Stabilizer Bar Link $ 28.79 $ 0.00 2 $ 57.58
MOOG CK80308 Control Arm $ 62.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 62.79
MOOG K200331 Stabilizer Bar Bushing $ 11.23 $ 0.00 1 $ 11.23
MOOG K200365 Control Arm Bushing $ 31.79 $ 0.00 2 $ 63.58
MOOG CK80306 Control Arm $ 62.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 62.79
Discount $ -14.81
Shipping Ground, Priority Mail $ 26.03
Order Total $ 307.43