[N8dogg]

Took vette to local alignment shop knew something was not right when the oldest one there working on cars looked about 17 y/o After about 3 minuets on the rack and a 5 foot pry bar was told that all 4 ball joints and idler arm were completely shot and was given a estimate for almost $800.00 for them to replace parts to be able to do the alignment.
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but have worked on cars an rods all my teen and adult life and can't never remember ever having to replace upper ball joints from being wore out. Vette only has 40000 miles on it. Do I change all 4 or are they just trying to sell parts and labor. or just find a new shop What do you guys think?

 

[eloc431962]

Try another shop if you are not satisfied with what this one has told you. JMO .Cole

 

[61bone]

I'd be looking for a different shop. Didn't say what year vette, but even the ones that had greasable joints would last much longer than that with no grease. If it really had all those problems, it would hardly be drivable.

 

[N8dogg]

thanks guys its a 1979 corvette and yes it has the greesable joints just needede to know that i was not wrong about the shop been driving the car some when weather permits i had just rebuilt the steering system on it and wanted to get the alignment checked out

 

[matt167]

if your uppers were bad they would most likely be knocking.... I did have an upper go bad on my '98 Ranger, but it happens with them.. only vehicle I'v ever had go on me..

the allignment shop I use, sort of specializes in the older Corvette suspensions.. other allignment shops in the area send them to him because they can't get it right.. 1 man show, $60 an allignment, not a bad deal being I know he's the best in the area.. I used to do allignments but.. not my thing , altho there easy jobs usually

 

[N8dogg]

thanks matt i am going to replace the lower ones there cheep and easy to get and will give me some peace of mind . after 3 years a few more hours and a few more dollars cant hurt to much. I have replaced upper joints after they have been broken or from grease worms getting into them but just have never seen one just wear out and go bad. I guess with a 5 foot prybar you can get anything to show some movement

 

[302 Z28]

if your uppers were bad they would most likely be knocking.... I did have an upper go bad on my '98 Ranger, but it happens with them.. only vehicle I'v ever had go on me..

98 Ford Ranger does not have ball joints, they have king pins.

Vince

 

[streetrodderbn]

What's a "grease worm" ?!!

 

[SPORTINWOOD56]

Yeah. What IS a grease worm?

 

[matt167]

98 Ford Ranger does not have ball joints, they have king pins.

Vince

sure they do... '83-'97's use twin I beams and king pins like the F-150's, but '98+ uses upper and lower balljoints in a basic SLA suspension... replacing upper balljoints require removal of the upper control arm, which is a pain

 

[N8dogg]

grease worms are what we told customers had got in u-joints, ball joints wheel barrings and ate all the grease. was better then telling them it was lack of care and maintenance that was the cause of failure

 

[prostreet6t9]

Took vette to local alignment shop knew something was not right when the oldest one there working on cars looked about 17 y/o After about 3 minuets on the rack and a 5 foot pry bar was told that all 4 ball joints and idler arm were completely shot and was given a estimate for almost $800.00 for them to replace parts to be able to do the alignment.
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but have worked on cars an rods all my teen and adult life and can't never remember ever having to replace upper ball joints from being wore out. Vette only has 40000 miles on it. Do I change all 4 or are they just trying to sell parts and labor. or just find a new shop What do you guys think?

I would get another opinion. Depending on where you took it,some of the Franchise places have questionable selling practices. Some of the Tech's are paid a bonus for stuff they find wrong and tend to try and sell services that are not needed.

 

[T-bucket23]

It is very possible all 4 ball joints are no good. A lot of them had some sort of non metalic parts internally and they can go bad with age. It is something you need to take somewhere and have checked before you change anything. You may be wasting $ changing the lowers if they don't need changing.
Alignment shops make their money changing front end parts and some pay commission to the "techs" for selling parts. That $600 job probably has a raw cost of $200 so it is much more profitable than a $79 dollar alignment.

 

[N8dogg]

took car over to a different shop after checking it out was told lower left ball joint showed some wear but was not to bad for a alignment if i wanted to change it out they would check alignment and reset it for me no charge. checked on parts i can get the lower ball joints at local parts store for $19 each. only about 1 1/2 hours to change out. will just change them both out and take it back for a check.

 

[T-bucket23]

I wouldnt put $19 ball joints in my car. Check the price on Moog joints. They are still fairly decent quality and are readily available.

 

[N8dogg]

that price is for moog I get good discount from them so they get all my business

 

[302 Z28]

sure they do... '83-'97's use twin I beams and king pins like the F-150's, but '98+ uses upper and lower balljoints in a basic SLA suspension... replacing upper balljoints require removal of the upper control arm, which is a pain

Sorry, my mistake, son had a 97 and it had "I" beams. :embarrass

Vince

 

[matt167]

Sorry, my mistake, son had a 97 and it had "I" beams. :embarrass

Vince

yup, I had a '92 b4 this 1.. the rear 1/2 of the frame is pretty much the same tho, using the same rear ends and leaf springs.