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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-

2 lower ball joints: cost to replace?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JonJon
  • Start date Start date Jan 22, 2007

JonJon

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Aug 16, 2002
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back in Marylands
Jan 22, 2007
#1
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #1
Ford quoted me $621 to replace the driver's side 2 lower ball joints?
That seems ridiculous?
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
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Jan 22, 2007
#2
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #2
I am going to get the work done at a local shop instead ($375 quote for pats/labor), are there any upgrade parts (aka non-Ford stockers) I should get?
 

urban96

bubb rubb says:"woo woooooo"
Founding Member
Sep 24, 2002
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Syracuse, NY
Jan 22, 2007
#3
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #3
seems kinda high

and theres only 1 per side
 

03ghoststang

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,930
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Los Angeles, California
Jan 22, 2007
#4
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #4
the steeda ball joints supposedly they help out alot when you have a lower mustang
 

squares98

Member
Aug 20, 2004
852
0
17
Orange,ca
Jan 22, 2007
#5
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #5
JonJon said:
I am going to get the work done at a local shop instead ($375 quote for pats/labor), are there any upgrade parts (aka non-Ford stockers) I should get?
Click to expand...

I made the same mistake once( by just buying the ball joints). You should just buy 04 cobra control arms and have them installed, it will be the same price.
 

BennyBlown2v

New Member
Dec 9, 2004
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Carmel, INdiana
Jan 22, 2007
#6
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #6
www.stangsuspension.com ~ coupon code "stangnet". Either go with 03/04 cobra control arms and swap them yourself (not hard, really), or go with Steeda x2 baljoints and do it your self. If you replace the balljoints yourself you just have to find somebody with a press to get the old balljoints out and the new ones in.
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
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back in Marylands
Jan 22, 2007
#7
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #7
urban96 said:
seems kinda high

and theres only 1 per side
Click to expand...

I just called back to ask her specifically what the problem was, she said "the lower ball joints are bad. The uppers are fine"

I don't really know anything about the a-arm/ball joints/front suspension so I asked whether "ball joints" meant both sides or just the driver's side and she still said "the lower ones on the driver side". i dunno?
03ghoststang said:
the steeda ball joints supposedly they help out alot when you have a lower mustang
Click to expand...

Mine is lowered with Eibach Pro-Kit and Mach 1 shock/struts.. I think I'll do the Cobra a-arms like everyone is saying
squares98 said:
I made the same mistake once( by just buying the ball joints). You should just buy 04 cobra control arms and have them installed, it will be the same price.
Click to expand...

BennyBlown2v said:
www.stangsuspension.com ~ coupon code "stangnet". Either go with 03/04 cobra control arms and swap them yourself (not hard, really), or go with Steeda x2 baljoints and do it your self. If you replace the balljoints yourself you just have to find somebody with a press to get the old balljoints out and the new ones in.
Click to expand...

I think I'll pick up those Cobra ones... We did my springs in my garage but I think I'll have the shop do the a-arms. Too cold and not enough time. Thanks guys.
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
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Mar 2, 2003
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Jan 22, 2007
#8
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #8
Good idea. The Cobra ones should work fine.
 

SaleenGT2001

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2005
2,811
4
58
Four Oaks NC
Jan 22, 2007
#9
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #9
JonJon said:
I just called back to ask her specifically what the problem was, she said "the lower ball joints are bad. The uppers are fine"

I don't really know anything about the a-arm/ball joints/front suspension so I asked whether "ball joints" meant both sides or just the driver's side and she still said "the lower ones on the driver side". i dunno?\.
Click to expand...

whoever you bare talking to doesnt know what they are talking about. there is one lower BJ per side and it takes minimal time and skill to install them. i can do them in my driveway in less than an hour.

BTW our cars dont have upper ball joints. so i hope they havent gone bad
 

SaleenGT2001

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2005
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Four Oaks NC
Jan 22, 2007
#10
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #10
for the price of the cobra arms i would just go with them. let me know if you need any help with the install. i do that kinda stuff everyday at work.
 

DropTopPony

Noob Slayer
Founding Member
Aug 13, 2002
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south jersey
Jan 22, 2007
#11
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #11
i did the 03 Cobra control arms with ball joints already in them...cost me 137.50 for the set from johnbleakleyford.com install was easy.
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
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back in Marylands
Jan 22, 2007
#12
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #12
How is this not tech?

yeah, I know nothing about ball joints but I don't remember seeing any really odd things while doing springs/shocks. Upper ball joints

Anyways, yeah, I know the a-arm job is pretty simple. We did my springs/shocks about 2 years ago in my driveway during the summer with hand tools and jacks. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to remove the a-arms, especially now with aftermarket springs.

However, it's cold as heck and the extra set of hands I had that summer is currently off at college. So I'm just going to pay a shop for the labor, darn easy money for them.

I looked at the Ford paperwork when I picked up the car, it says "NEEDS LOWER BALL JOINTS (2 EACH)" at 2 hours each. 4 hours and parts for $621. I just wonder if they were going to replace the ball joints even though it seems it would be cheaper to just put in new a-arms. I was quoted 2 hours labor to install a set of new a-arms from a different dealership. friggin dealerships. Cost $180~ shipped for 03/04 a-arms from GEF.
 

squares98

Member
Aug 20, 2004
852
0
17
Orange,ca
Jan 22, 2007
#13
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #13
IN My experience ford service department could care less that Ford Racing Makes all these parts for our cars. And you are right about labor to install parts some charge more than twice as much as others.
 

stangman

15 Year Member
Jul 10, 2003
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Jan 22, 2007
#14
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #14
if you were closer to me jojo i'd do it for ya
 

CRZYHRSGT

New Member
Feb 14, 2004
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5.7 miles north of THE Ohio State University
Jan 23, 2007
#15
  • Jan 23, 2007
  • #15
Since the X2 ball joints were mentioned, does anyone know if anyone offers them already pressed into control arms? (Save a little labor and get new inner A-arm bushings in the process )
 
9

90gtguyman

New Member
Sep 17, 2004
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Jan 23, 2007
#16
  • Jan 23, 2007
  • #16
if i were u i would just do them myself. i found that the job by the books is 3.1 hours so cost will vary by shop. they arent hard i have done many you should be able to get them done.
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
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68
back in Marylands
Jan 23, 2007
#17
  • Jan 23, 2007
  • #17
squares98 said:
IN My experience ford service department could care less that Ford Racing Makes all these parts for our cars. And you are right about labor to install parts some charge more than twice as much as others.
Click to expand...

yeah, i even asked once if i bought the parts through the dealer and had them install it, whether it would have a warranty. they basically told me if it wasn't stock, it would void everything.
stangman said:
if you were closer to me jojo i'd do it for ya
Click to expand...
i wish we were closer, there's been tons of mod you said you'd help with
90gtguyman said:
if i were u i would just do them myself. i found that the job by the books is 3.1 hours so cost will vary by shop. they arent hard i have done many you should be able to get them done.
Click to expand...

I'm debating it, even 2 hours shop time (at minimum) is worth maybe 4 hours of my time. Just time is tight with school and full time work... but still... so easy... arg
 
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