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Compare these cheap cars
paigeoliver:
--- Quote from: Crazy Cooter on April 01, 2005, 09:55:25 pm ---[sarcasm]
Ball joints are fun!
[/sarcasm]
They're a real drag. Plan a weekend around it. That's assuming the problem lies there. Grab the tire and try to tip it in & out. If it's sloppy = needs new ones. If not, keep looking. You should hear a slight clunk sound if the rock. That's the slop in the joints. Almost like the clunk you hear trying to pull a drum off.
Try looking to see if there is slop in the tie rods.
--- End quote ---
I watched the mechanic do that and it did.
If ball joints are THAT fun then I might just have them done, and spend the TIME part of my vehicle budget on things I would be better at. I don't exactly own a garage.
paigeoliver:
Are lower control arm bushings easier? $285 of that $538 are lower control arm bushings and the labor for them.
nostrebor:
My experience is in older cars, but usually ball joints are a press in operation. Those that I have done have required special tools, and bleeding knuckles. Here in Springfield, the parts store will loan the tools to press them in and out, but they work marginally well. If they are the screw in type, or a bolted on type, then it is less difficult to replace them.
IMHO, if your parts are 50% or more of that $500+ number, let the mechanic do it.
YMMV
Crazy Cooter:
They're all a PITA.
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: Crazy Cooter on April 01, 2005, 11:07:02 pm ---
Most of the time it just gives a kind of "swimmy" feel to the handling. What year is the truck? I might have a manual laying around that I can scan a few pages in...
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That describes it pretty well. It's an 89 Suburban, 1500, 2 wheel drive, 5.7. I don't remember what kind they were (press in?) though. He's got a Chilton, but unless he's got help and the tools, won't that be a pain in the ass? I've helped on 'em, but I can't imagine doing them by yourself...seems like a recipe for disaster!