Time for upper and lower ball joints?

[Altnrgy]

First let me thank you all for the great responses to my last question. I can't tell you how great it was. I look forward to being able to return the favor. I scanned the forum before I asked this question and even though I'm sure my answer is there I didn't find it so please accept my apology in advance.

A local shop is telling me that my 99 F250 2wd with 221,000 miles needs the original upper and lower ball joints replaced to to the tune of $675 parts and labor.

Two questions
1) Is this price in the realm of reality to a pay shop to do it?
2) Truck is tight (very tight actually), no funny tire wear what so ever, no rattles or squeaks and certainly no noise from the front end. I'm assuming these guys aren't slow and trying to make their next boat payment and that I can believe them. They've done some other work on other vehicles before and treated me right but....
Should I wait until a rattles appears then deal with this? No need dropping the money now if don't have to but I'd also like to just get it behind me. One important detail is the I'm getting new tires on in the next week so.

Thanks, Travis

[super_stroke]

the price sound's about right. to me anyway. I payed 7 hundred something but mine's 4x4 and alot of that was labor to take it all apart. it wouldn't hurt to take it to another shop and see what they say. some times they can look at it and tell you whats wrong for little or nothing. it cost $20 for them to look at mine and figure out what was wrong. and they put the $20 towards the total when i went back. check into it.

[7.3joker]

a good way to tell is if you jack the truck up and the top of the tire leans way out away from the truck or you can just move it easily.

[ttyR2]

That price is about right, but I'd have another shop check the ball joints, just to be sure. Or...jack it up and check them yourselves. My truck needed new ones at 187k miles, and it was obvious they were shot. I was suprised how worn they were.

Make sure that price is for the good quality Moog hardware, and not some cheap quality ball joints.

[quadscrib]

Well me working in the service buis.Ill tell you 200k on stock Ball Joints is AMAZING!!! Though I live in Michigan and our roads here SUCK!!!!! So steering and suspension wear items like that go very fast. And BTW $600-$700 for parts and labor (alignment included?) is not bad at all. Also no matter what you are told have it aligned as part of the service...it needs it.
I Bought my 03 350 4x4 dually 26k ago and had all four joints replaced during the B-inspection, well 26k later ALL FOUR WASTED!!! This time went w/ OE Ford parts instead of the CarQuest junk we originally installed.
Here in Michigan 30k on up expect ANYTHING on such parts. JMO.

[mxfever090]

Well being this post is two years old I'm pretty sure he's had them taken care of. But, like others mentioned 221k on stock ball joints is unheard of. Mine were toast with just 70k.

I bought Moog upper and lowers, seals and o-rings, sway bar pivots and links for $360 and paid my buddy that is a Ford tech $150 to do them at his house. I have auto hubs and the seals are sensative if you don't get the seals right the auto hubs won't work. Unreal how sloppy the truck was. I just got used to it over time. Now she drives like a brand new truck.

Brian, we sold the Charger. Sorry dude, may have to catch you at Portland!

[quadscrib]

Lol Jason I didn't even pay attention to the date.
Yah mine was MUCH better w the new joints!
Also definatly hope to see you guys at the track! Love to see your Lil ones on the mini track in the next couple years.

[mxfever090]

Originally Posted by quadscrib

Also definatly hope to see you guys at the track! Love to see your Lil ones on the mini track in the next couple years.

I'm restoring a Trail 50 for the kids this winter. Put on some training wheels, take the shifter off after it's in first gear and let them at it. It won't be long and you'll see us at the track every weekend.

[beamer]

Originally Posted by mxfever090

Well being this post is two years old I'm pretty sure he's had them taken care of. But, like others mentioned 221k on stock ball joints is unheard of. Mine were toast with just 70k.

I bought Moog upper and lowers, seals and o-rings, sway bar pivots and links for $360 and paid my buddy that is a Ford tech $150 to do them at his house. I have auto hubs and the seals are sensative if you don't get the seals right the auto hubs won't work. Unreal how sloppy the truck was. I just got used to it over time. Now she drives like a brand new truck.

Brian, we sold the Charger. Sorry dude, may have to catch you at Portland!

My EX has auto locking hubs and I am looking to do my own ball joints soon. What kind of problems do they impose on the job?

And where do I get the seals if I were to need them? Should I get them in advance?

What other parts would be advisable to get prior to starting this job?


Thanks for your help,
Mike

[7.3joker]

Touche! I just did mine after havin stock ones for 343K believe it or not