Lower ball joints -- am I being ripped off?
Yeah, its best if you get greasable ones. The fact that they are 'greased for life' is such bull and obviously just a way for the companies to make money. When they get $800 to replace them, you can see why they do it. It's such bull.
If you can grease them, they shouldn't fail, or least not for a LONG time. A couple hundred thousand miles, not 50k like some have been know to fail in.
This whole topic makes me bitter seeing mine had to replaced twice within 110k miles...
If you can grease them, they shouldn't fail, or least not for a LONG time. A couple hundred thousand miles, not 50k like some have been know to fail in.
This whole topic makes me bitter seeing mine had to replaced twice within 110k miles...
Champion
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Plattsburgh, NY
Yeah because it's 2wd. 4wd dakotas eat them up like candy.
It's just another 'Way to go Dodge' thing. My father's 02 f150 has 215k on it and the original ball joints are still good. His last one they went at 190... People give Ford crap, but his F150s have been a lot more reliable then either of my Dakotas. 215k on his truck and nothing but routine maintance and a water pump...
It's just another 'Way to go Dodge' thing. My father's 02 f150 has 215k on it and the original ball joints are still good. His last one they went at 190... People give Ford crap, but his F150s have been a lot more reliable then either of my Dakotas. 215k on his truck and nothing but routine maintance and a water pump...
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: N.Alabama
Yep, Definately look for a new mechanic. Ball joints aren't all that hard, just a little frustrating if you don't have all the right tools. Just to kinda give you an idea, My wife and I replaced all 4 balljoints, 8 control arm bushings, rotors, calipers, sway bar endlinks and bushings on my 97 2wd for about $350 - 400. Most of the shops I've ever worked in charded a 100% mark up on parts so that's just normal.
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Burleson, TX
I bought all my poly bushings for about $80, balljoints (greaseable) about $90 for 2, took everything apart myself w/friends help, had local shop press balljoints and upper control arm (or maybe lower can't remember) cost $50 and paid helper $100. So I did balljoints, control arm bushings (upper and lower) and sway-bar bushings for $320. Find a mechanic that charges labor based on actual time worked, usually the big shops will take you to the cleaners, find a local old school mechanic.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Southern Oregon
I had all lower and upper ball joints replaced at a local tire shop (Southern Oregon) for $700, and they replaced them with greasable ones. That sould give you an idea of the price to expect.