Okay, I am going to be going to a mechanic tomorrow in my local home town, he charges $40 an hour in labor, and has been in business in town since 1987, my truck is a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 2WD with 230,000 miles on it, and I am almost certain my ball joints on the drivers side are shot, and am going to get them replaced once he quotes me an estimate.

Before I get an estimate, I would like to get your guys input on what you think it would cost in two or three different scenarios, since I am always thinking the worst, i'm thinking when he looks under the truck, things like tie rods, or control arm bushings may be ready for replacing, alongside the ball joints (all 4)

I can tell the passenger side ball joint has been replaced as the upper and lower control arm ball joints are bolted down with bolts, but the driver side STILL has the original RIVETS, that means that ball joint(s) both have over 230,000 miles on it.

So whats a ball park to expect for these:

A: Driver side ball joints are bad, both need replaced, thats it.

B: Both driver and passenger upper and lower need replaced

C: All 4 ball joints need replaced AND control arm bushings are worn and need new ones pressed in.

D: C, plus add in maybe a tie rod or two lol.

I am expecting this repair parts and all to at minimum cost me no less than $500 for parts and labor, but am hoping it stays under $800, this truck was bought second hand, and the engine and all those components run great, but it seems like everything below the engine is about to kick the curb.

 

Ball joints are easy diy.
If you have some tools and some knowledge. They're not terribly hard.

If you spent the $500-$800 on parts and tools you'd have a lot of tools. A lot.
At $40/hr (which is cheap) the job should cost $80-$120 plus parts.
Add in $100 for parts. So maybe $250.
Its simple to do. Especially with shop air and tools.

All four changed... maybe $500 if he's screwing with you.
Expect that though. Yes gotta make money too.
Add in the rag he wiped his hands with $10. Dont forget you paid for his coffee break $10. Plus lunch $20. Plus he spilt his coffee and had to change into dry coveralls $10.
Remember, every 15 minutes he spends talking with you or somebody else costs you $10.
Easy job, adds up fast.
Ahh. Eight hour day plus plus plus.
four ball joints. $973.46 plus tax.

 

I'd just start with the driver side ball joints.

I was in the same position as you, replaced the ball joints, noise went away. My control arm bushings aren't in "new" condition but they don't make any noise

 

Whew, he got under the truck =D, and thank god, he said everything besides the drivers side ball joints are good to go, passenger side ball joints are fine, control arm bushings are fine, just the two drivers side ball joints need replaced, he quoted me with getting those two replaced about $260 for everything, parts labor and all.

He said I shouldn't need an alignment after replacing the ball joint's so I hope that's true, or that will take it up to just under $350 for everything.

Question tho, the shocks on the truck are not the original shocks, they are apparently heavy duty shocks, so they perform better with more weight on the truck. The truck passes the bounce test where I bounce it up and down a few times, it bounces up and stays there, no more bouncing, BUT when I am driving and go to stop, or hit a bump, I can feel it pretty hard in the cabin, when I stop, if I don't depress then repress the brakes, I get my head thrown forward a bit, this leads me to believe it is shocks, but my chocks checked out fine? And pass a bounce test, so what could it be?

 

I had this done two weeks ago, both upper and lower. I paid 360.00 parts and labor. I watched it being done and was happy to pay the price, what a job. That cured the noise I was having and tightened up steering a bit. Sounds like you are getting a real deal.

 

Did you need to get an alignment afterwards? I was told I probably would not need one.

 

Depends. How's your alignment now?

See how it drives after the new parts are installed.

 

It drives pretty straight forward, doesn't just veer left or right, if i'm on a road and rest my hands, it stays straight for a good 20+ seconds, then can start to slowly veer left or right depending on the road.

 

They told me that an alignment was needed and was included in price.

 

The shop I am getting mine done at doesn't do alignments, but the alignment place is like 4 miles away lol, so I was quoted @ $260 for parts and labor, alignment not included, An alignment down here is like $75, so it shouldn't run me more than $350 than for the whole bundle.