well my mechanic just told me it would b just under $900 to get my four ball joints replaced, does this sound about right. also is this something i can do on my own, my friend has the tool i can borrow to do them

 

Mine were replaced under warranty by Ford along with my idler arm. The total bill was just under $900. So if a dealer charged my warranty that your quote may be just a little high.

 

seems a little high

 

those are regular prices in north east area ,about average.

ps. no im not a machanic but with the prices around here i wish i was

 

Parts from RockAuto totalled just under $300. I am replacing entire upper control arm with bj and lower bj's (requires ball joint removal tool). I think they're pretty easy to swap but I have experience working on my front end. You need to put it back so you can drive it to the shop for your alignment but working with the front spring, which is under a lot of pressure, is the most dicey so I cannot advise you do it yourself unless you have help...heck, if your friend has the bj tool, he probably knows how to use it! A case of beer could be well spent here!
Good luck and post back with your progress/solution.

Edit: Just noticed your truck is a 2000. Not sure of the bj process here...

 

search ebay for ball joints. you can get all four for around 170 and they are good units.

you don't even have to use the toll to remove or install. the uppers come out with two bolts and the lowers can be beat out and then the new ones pretty much slip back in with minimal force.