Bad ball joints?
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Raft Island, WA
Bad ball joints?
I just took my 2000 7.3 to a ford dealership cause when i turned left or right there would be a terrible whine sound like the power steering pump was on its way out. Just got a phone call a few minutes ago and they told me my ball joints where causing the noise and was going to cost $919.00 to fix the upper and lower. Does this sound right?
correction: up and lower both passenger/driver side will cost $919.00
correction: up and lower both passenger/driver side will cost $919.00
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 3
From: West of Chicago
I just took my 2000 7.3 to a ford dealership cause when i turned left or right there would be a terrible whine sound like the power steering pump was on its way out. Just got a phone call a few minutes ago and they told me my ball joints where causing the noise and was going to cost $919.00 to fix the upper and lower. Does this sound right?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Morehead, Ky.
When I had a whine in my steering, I flushed the steerng system, and cleared it up.
I probably had gotten some water in the reservoir when I washed my engine.
I also replaced my ball joints myself, first time ever, and it wasn't such a hard job. And I am an old F**t.
I did have access to a hydraulic press, though.
You can do it yourself, and someone has the instructions on here for an EX.
Have a look at this. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html
I probably had gotten some water in the reservoir when I washed my engine.
I also replaced my ball joints myself, first time ever, and it wasn't such a hard job. And I am an old F**t.
I did have access to a hydraulic press, though.
You can do it yourself, and someone has the instructions on here for an EX.
Have a look at this. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 107
From: BoCoMo
I just took my 2000 7.3 to a ford dealership cause when i turned left or right there would be a terrible whine sound like the power steering pump was on its way out. Just got a phone call a few minutes ago and they told me my ball joints where causing the noise and was going to cost $919.00 to fix the upper and lower. Does this sound right?
correction: up and lower both passenger/driver side will cost $919.00
correction: up and lower both passenger/driver side will cost $919.00
I have never heard of 'ball joints' making a whining noise..... 'clucking' noise, yes, but not whining.
Get your truck out of there asap before they 'find'more stuff 'wrong' with your truck than a low power steering reservoir. Say NO to ball joints until you come back and talk to your brothers here.....
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
Not that bad of a job. You could do it yourself with new seals and everything for $250-$350. Rent the tool from autozone and you will be money ahead. Just did mine a couple of weeks ago.
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
You may have bad ball joints, but they will not cause the kind of whining noise you've described.
As for local shop costs, I had my local tire shop (excellent workmanship, responsible, and not gougers) do the passenger side with an alignment for me three years ago, and it ran about $475 ($69 for the alignment). With that in mind, the $919 isn't too far off the mark. HOWEVER, at that point in time I had never done ball joints myself and was cornered into a time demand which did not allow me to take my first shot at it. A month later, when I got my front leveling kit, I did the other side myself using a ball joint press from Advance Auto and an impact wrench... not too hard... took me about 4 hours for the driver side. Now, I've done about 5 sets of them and when I take my time, I can get both sides done in about 3 hours, and that includes the time to jack up the truck, do all the work, and clean up & put away all the tools afterwards. The cost difference is HUGE, and you KNOW that it was done right when you do it yourself (assuming you can follow directions)!!
As for local shop costs, I had my local tire shop (excellent workmanship, responsible, and not gougers) do the passenger side with an alignment for me three years ago, and it ran about $475 ($69 for the alignment). With that in mind, the $919 isn't too far off the mark. HOWEVER, at that point in time I had never done ball joints myself and was cornered into a time demand which did not allow me to take my first shot at it. A month later, when I got my front leveling kit, I did the other side myself using a ball joint press from Advance Auto and an impact wrench... not too hard... took me about 4 hours for the driver side. Now, I've done about 5 sets of them and when I take my time, I can get both sides done in about 3 hours, and that includes the time to jack up the truck, do all the work, and clean up & put away all the tools afterwards. The cost difference is HUGE, and you KNOW that it was done right when you do it yourself (assuming you can follow directions)!!
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 110
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From: Arm Pit of Texas
Not trying to highjack the tread. All four of my ball joints are bad, so i was told. Also both seals for the auto 4x4 are bad. Had my tire shop tell me they would replace all and align for $1066. Found a man I trust tell me he would do all except align for $800.00. Is this to high? I do not have time to do the work myself right now.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, CA
I have heard the ball joints make a screeching noise when the steering wheel is turned before.
That is a pretty standard price to have them done. The R&R books about 5 hours @90-100/hr, alignment figure $100, list is probably close to $300 on the parts, plus tax if applicable.
That is a pretty standard price to have them done. The R&R books about 5 hours @90-100/hr, alignment figure $100, list is probably close to $300 on the parts, plus tax if applicable.
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