'99 Tahoe 4x4 Issues related to maintenance of ball joints

[fullm3taljacket]

*Updated on both forums

The least expensive shop told me that that cost ($875 OTD) did include the alignment, but that the lower ball joints would be considerably more...taking it to about $1450 for the total replacement of the pitman arm, idler arm, upper control arms, upper and lower ball joints along with the alignment, with all parts (except the control arms) being Moog Problem Solvers (Moog no longer makes the control arms) and includes all of the labor therein.

This seems reasonable given that I have an almost identical quote for two other shops (previously posted). What is y'all's take? What signifies poor shape of lower ball joints, just the bushings?

I wish I had the know-how, but as I said I am by no means a mechanic...I can do the basics and that's about it (a fact I am not happy about, incidentally).

 

[jerryjoe28]

why did you decided to replace the full upper controll arm and not just the upper ball joint?

 

[fullm3taljacket]

If the control arms are replaced, not only do they get replaced but they come with the ball joints already. Less labor is also required for this.

I could either pay them more for parts or pay them more for labor. Labor in and of itself doesn't replace anything, parts do, so I opted that route.

 

[jerryjoe28]

do the new controll arms come with the balljoints rivited in or bolted in? also what brand are they?

 

[SunlitComet]

Depends on who makes them.