Ball Joint Adventures
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: north carolina
I, too, have had limited success pressing the lower ball joints out with the loaner C-clamp press. In fact, I bought one of these from Harbor Freight for about $30, and actually spread the C-clamp trying to press out a ball joint. Cheap China steel aside, I was surprised with that.
Ended up having to drop the lower control arm, and remove the lower joint with a 12-ton shop press. Would have used that anyway---just trying to save the time from dropping the control arm, since that involves messing with the torsion bars.
The job gets easier each time, but its still a lot of work. Most repair shops in my area are quoting between $600-$1000 to do uppers and lowers, just to give you some incentive for tackling the job yourself.
Ended up having to drop the lower control arm, and remove the lower joint with a 12-ton shop press. Would have used that anyway---just trying to save the time from dropping the control arm, since that involves messing with the torsion bars.
The job gets easier each time, but its still a lot of work. Most repair shops in my area are quoting between $600-$1000 to do uppers and lowers, just to give you some incentive for tackling the job yourself.
New User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Great trick for the Freezer!
That is a great trick to put things you are going to install into the freezer first. We do this a lot on helicopters to get things to fit that have very close tolerances. Freezing your parts for a bit will certainly shrink the metal.
You'd be surprised how much .002 - .005 difference will make sometimes!!
Everybody keep those posts coming...this site has helped me more than my Prozac!! (just kidding)
BEAVE
You'd be surprised how much .002 - .005 difference will make sometimes!!
Everybody keep those posts coming...this site has helped me more than my Prozac!! (just kidding)
BEAVE
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 23
From: Tennessee
I just had the lower ball joints replaced. The shop I use is a small town independent. He charges $45 per ball joint which would be $180 for all four [labor only, you can bring the parts with you if you wish]. The lowers will cost you around $35 each for a name brand [Moog or TRW] or about $60 for the uppers. Cheaper ball joints can be found if you want to go that route. I like to do all of my repairs but I can't justify doing this job when I could get it done for $90. Shop around, most places are robbing people for these jobs.
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