Lower Ball Joint Time
 

Well, just got new front tires for the 90 Bonnie and when the alignment was being done on the car, I got a nice call saying my lower left ball join is pretty much done and the right is not the greatest either. Definitely not something I want to mess around with and it is probably not the shop trying to drum up business either since they are a reputable wheel + suspension shop (Direct Tire + Auto in Watertown, MA) nice place, they win all kind of awards. Just trying to paint the picture of a non-sketchy tire shop.

Anyway, I am going to take it to my mechanic and see what he says about them. The first shop wanted $535 for both side's lowers and labor and I will see what my mechanic quotes me but I do have all my work done with him so it should not be too bad.

Hope for the best.

Yeah, $535 my rear-end. Now I always knew Direct Tire was higher than average for pricing but this puts it out of the park. My mechanic just quoted me $135.90 per side and said the right side does not even need to be done to boot. Hmmm, maybe they were trying to stir up some business before since I you never know.

I did thnk the pricing was a bit high but was not sure since ball joints are something that might get replaced only once during the life of a car.

I replace my own ball joints @ $ 34 each I think... There rear lower control arms are a wee bit more tricky as they have the springs in them where as the fronts don't...

$135.90 per side doesn't seem that bad for each side.... I'm sure you'll get a warranty with that..?

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joints
 

I would replace the front myself but never attempt the rear.
I occasionally have them appart when changing cv boots.
At $135 I would let your trusted mechanic do the one that needs it.

Yeah, got the left side done for that price that day and all is well with Bonnie again. Now to see if I can still get that free alignment now that I have the ball join t replaced.

joint
 

good deal its well worth it....

A little off topic, but let's say you have one ball joint fail... lower front let's say. Should you get the upper replaced too? what about the rear lower or rear upper? is it best to just replace them all? if one fails are the others not that far behind?

I did my rear balljoint a month ago. All I had to do, was rent a tool, a balljoint press. Paid full price for the tool, and got every cent of my money back when i loaned the tool from canadian tire.

Anyways, they are not hard to do. The fronts are a little more tricky since you have the strut and spring together, but at least you don't need the tool.

Upper balljoint? I did not know there was an upper joint. Thought it was just a strut bearing on the bonne's lesabres, and olds?

There is no upper Ball joint on the H or C body GM cars...

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oh :oops:. well i'm in auto and they never told me that.. they said there is always an upper and lower ball joint. and i'm usually the one who contradicts the teacher with oddball stuff like electronic brakes and OBD 1.5 cars [hehe this was a funny one]