Lower ball joints

[OtterbatHellcat]

You're seriously going to replace your ball joints without verifying that they're bad, with your own eyes?

Buy the stuff, rent a press, and all that........cause the brakes plus guy said you needed them.

[streetglideok]

Something else not said yet, when the balljoints wear enough, they can come apart, and can create a dangerous situation. At the least, you can expect body damage to the vehicle. There is a spec on how much play is allowed on the load carrying balljoints. Technically, they can not condemn them without measuring play and comparing that to spec. Few people actually do this though, and hack shops like Brakesplus definitely won't. They pay their guys about half what most shops pay, so you're not getting much for techs. I once talked to them after they badgered me for months to go to work for them. I laughed at the interview when they told me what they'd be willing to pay me. An L1 master technician, and only $15/hr? Not a chance jack!

[Ah Pook]

Mine as well do the uppers while your in there. On some solid axles, the upper has to be removed before a press can be clamped on the lower.

[stenz]

You're seriously going to replace your ball joints without verifying that they're bad, with your own eyes?

Buy the stuff, rent a press, and all that........cause the brakes plus guy said you needed them.

That's why I'm asking. I need to know who to tell if they are bad.

[Great-Kazoo]

That's why I'm asking. I need to know who to tell if they are bad.

Pay a qualified front end shop or board member. It's real easy to check play in them. Not in this weather granted, but easy.

[JMBD2112]

Feel free to bring it down to my shop and we'll shake down your front end. I worked for GM for almost 10yrs and from past experience the uppers go bad quite often. If it's the lowers and memory serves me right, you have to get the whole control arm to replace the ball joint. But I may be wrong. Offer stands though if you want to drive down to Parker.

[RonMexico]

I have a garage and most the tools required are hand tools. I would have to rent a ball joint press from autozone or advanced auto.

When I replace my ball joint on a 2005, it's was only $20 more to replace the whole lower A-arm with the ball joint pressed in and greased. Saved me a lot of time and headache.

[Wulf202]

They reason I took it in is because the tires are starting to wear a little uneven (every other outside tread lug is wearing more then the next).

Sounds like scalloping likely shocks

NEVER trust brakes plus

[earplug]

complete assembled lower A arm is less then $190.00.

[tmleadr03]

First off, start taking your vehicle to a local independent shop. Not a big chain. You will get better service at a small business vs an chain of stores.

Second. It actually sounds like they were not far off. It really is how you check these things. Grab the wheel and shake it. Once at 12 and 6 and again at 3 and 9.