Hey guys thought I'd drop in and say hi between the winter fixem ups and the summer tillage biz! Its been too long gone for me and wrenchin on my IDI today made me think of yall so here I am!

 

Well march has gone, and april has arived and before we know it it will tailgating time. Toke the bronco to get a front end alinement yesturday, and all four ball joints are junk. Now the wuestion is do I pay some one to do it, or do it my self. I donmt really have the time to doo it right now, and I have never ddone it on a 4 wheel drive truck before, only a 2 wheel drive. The shop that I had it ad whant close to $1,000 to change them, the outer u joints and then do an alinement.

 

Bummer Dave. I had new ball joints put in my 97 about 5 years ago (didn't have time to do it myself, needed truck) I recall it cost me about $700.

 

Good to hear from you. Starting to think about tillage myself

 

I dont really need the truck, so I could make the time, but since it is spring now, I would much rather be driving it then working on it. If I end up paying some one to do it, then I'm more than likely not going to get it painted this year.

 

Maybe someone will chime in and comment on how difficult a job it is, I can't remember doing one myself.

 

Id like to know how you know if they're bad. I've checked them like you would check kingpins, jack up the front and push/pull on the tire to feel for movement. It would be nice to know since I already have the spindles off and the driveshafts out to do the u-joints. How much would a job like that cost DIY? I'm pretty sure I could do the alignment if there wasn't a camber adjustment. Its a Dana 60 so it should be straight forward enough.

 

Balljoints aren't too hard of a job, with the right tools. You need a good balljoint press, a strong impact and a good compressor and some time. I have never done balljoints on a TTB front but don't think it would differ to much from a solid axle. $1000 to do balljoints??? I'm in the wrong business. Looks like about $140 in parts and $860 in labor.

RockAuto Parts Catalog

<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 2px groove; BORDER-LEFT: 2px groove; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: 2px groove; BORDER-RIGHT: 2px groove" class=main><TBODY><TR id=table429part17 class=part1><TD><TABLE class=parts><TBODY><TR><TD class=left><TABLE class=layout><TBODY><TR><TD>MOOG Part # K80026
Frt Susp; Upper; Problem Solver
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 40px" class=right>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD id=node429part17price class=center>$37.79</TD><TD id=node429part17core class=center>$0.00</TD><TD id=node429part17total class=center>$37.79</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 2px groove; BORDER-LEFT: 2px groove; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: 2px groove; BORDER-RIGHT: 2px groove" class=main><TBODY><TR id=table429part13 class=part1><TD><TABLE class=parts><TBODY><TR><TD class=left><TABLE class=layout><TBODY><TR><TD>MOOG Part # K8195T
Frt Susp; Lower; Problem Solver
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 40px" class=right>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD id=node429part13price class=center>$31.79</TD><TD id=node429part13core class=center>$0.00</TD><TD id=node429part13total class=center>$31.79</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

EDIT: BTW, thanks for starting the April BS thread, I forgot that yesterday was April 1st already.


Checking balljoints is about the same as checking kingpins, I usually jack the wheel up and pry up on the bottom of the tire with a long bar or a 2x4.


Looks like about $57/each for lowers and about $38/each for uppers.

 

Thats what I figured but I wasn't sure. In that case I don't think I need them. I'll save the money for a new injection pump...

 

$1000 is way to much DrunkDave.
I have don joints before and have the OTC balljoint press.
We could do it on a sunday for beer. + roadtrip.
Might need to check front end alignment after.

 

We had to pull a 80lb calf from a heifer tonight. Looks like so much for goin out, I'm starvin. Sure could go for some Chili's ribs though. Dave just take Tim up on his offer, beers way cheaper than shop hourly

 

Useless trivia for the day: A dana 60 carrier group will fit in a 2 gallon ziploc bag. I needed something to keep the sand out till I put it back in. Jeez, with the parts lined up and a clean place to work I'm positive this would've just been an afternoon job. Happy easter

 

Hey y'all.

 

That's what I was thinking. The $1000 is also for new you joints in the front end, and an aliment. I talked to a friend of mone who lives about a half hour north of me. We figure that between the two fo us, a few cold ones, that we can do it all in a week end. So im gonna pick up all the parts and we are gonna do it the weekend of the 17th.