Ok guys, Just got my Hi-teck Reman tires put on my truck and was told and shown by the mechanic the ball joints were very bad, he said I needed to get them done asap. Funds are tight right now around Christmas. If I wait a month and a ball joint should go or come apart, what is the worst that will happen?

Mike

 

If it falls apart you could lose control, wreck, kill yourself and other people. It can't get much worse than that can it?

 

Basically, when a ball joint "fails" all together, it breaks. When it breaks, your front suspension can collapse - causing you to loose control. Although this is bad, tie rod ends failing can be even worse. Did I mention that Ford has a problem with these too? I'd suggest finding some money to fix them.

 

ether fix them or dont drive

 

I tend to agree it is very dangerous to drive a vehicle with "bad" ball joints. If you can jack it up and get a little play out of the wheel (hand on top and bottom and rock top and bottom) it is time and you really shouldn't wait.

 

OK OK OK OK I get it. What is the going price in NJ for replacing these. A shop I called quoted me $550.00 for all four. Is this a fair price?

 

thats a good price. I got quoted 850 in So Cal. I know things are a little more expensive here, but not that much.

However, I really recommend doing the upper ball joints yourself. If you have a lift and aftermarket upper control arms, the balljoints are easy to replace(1hr tops with the right tools:good jack, balljoint splitter, and socket set). be sure to replace them with high quality ones like Moog. Without a lift, you have to replace the entire control arm, but its still going to save you a lot(2 hrs max on the labor doing it yourself). Also, you can do the lowers yourself, but it is more of a mess because you have to take out the springs,shocks,etc.