Hey all,
so last thursday my front ball joint fell out and screwed my right front end up. well been calling the dealar all week and they keep giving me the run around that parts are on order and crap.. well so far this is what is getting fixed from the ball joint falling out of socket at 30 mph..... both new ball joints new axle on right side new rim and tire and new cv boot.. i had no idea it would be that much stuff but they keep finding stuff wrong and fixing it so YEAHHH!!!! it will be like a new car almost up there lol just wanted to give a heads up. kinda sucks i miss my baby it was supposed to be done monday and its now wensday and no car to drive... its killing me sitting at home all the time lol.. will post pics of new stuff when i get it back

Joe

 

I made an appointment with my local dealer to get it checked out on my 98 Avenger Sport. For some time now my car has been giving a creaking-grinding noise when I turn or go up and down; usually this only happened in the morning when its cold but know its starting to get semi cold (Florida) and starting to make the noise more often. The dealer says there will be an $80 fee to check it out, if it is the ball joints or get whatever is fixed there there is no service charge; however if its not the ball joints and I take it somewhere else I will be charged.

Is there a way to be sure that its the ball joints? If, so how do I make sure that they wont lie to my face and say its not.

Good luck with your car also. I really wish I knew more about my car but I have no time to experiment with it being my only car and going to school 35 miles away 5 days a week.

 

Yes, make the appointment for the lower control arm balljoint check only. If you make a general suspension issue appointment, you will get hosed.

 

Yeah, I just told them ball joints. What I want to know is how can I check if it is the ball joints so I'm not taking an $80 risk at the dealer.

 

You can lift the front end up and you can physically check the lower control arm balljoint boots. You can apply just enough pressure that if there is a tear, you can find it. Don't do it too light though because you will only miss it. The book states to put a torque wrench to it and check that too.
Funny thing is that the dealership only glances at it and then calls it a day. I'm not sure why they charge you at the start, but I was never charged for it when I made my appointments for them to check for the recall. It sounds to me like this...if you're wasting my money making time, you pay for that time and space, if it IS the balljoints, it's free. Not very customer oriented to me...I'd move on to another dealership or call DCX and have them make the appointment. Oh and tell them what they are doing and ask them about the charge.