Help, Lower ball joint replacement

Snowman08 · 10-22-2008, 03:55 PM

Hello to all, I am on vacation in West Virginia and having the car serviced at a local Ford dearler. I was told I needed lower ball joint replacements, 91,500 on 2004, xlt. Just received a call that the wheel axle nut was stripped and three threads were ruined, so for another 500 bucks I would get a new nut and axle.
My question is why would they need to take the nut off the axle to replace the lower ball joints..? 500 bucks seems high for labor and material, is it..? Is 480 bucks high for lower ball joints..?
We live in Rhode Island and need a car to return... hopefully this week end.
Thanks to all for the info... and guidance..
Tha snowman08

*Sams01XplrSprt* · 10-22-2008, 07:21 PM

welcome i need to replace my lower ball joints too and i got an 01 sport

**Blee1099** · 10-22-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman08

Hello to all, I am on vacation in West Virginia and having the car serviced at a local Ford dearler. I was told I needed lower ball joint replacements, 91,500 on 2004, xlt. Just received a call that the wheel axle nut was stripped and three threads were ruined, so for another 500 bucks I would get a new nut and axle.
My question is why would they need to take the nut off the axle to replace the lower ball joints..? 500 bucks seems high for labor and material, is it..? Is 480 bucks high for lower ball joints..?
We live in Rhode Island and need a car to return... hopefully this week end.
Thanks to all for the info... and guidance..
Tha snowman08

It all depends on the shop rate.. More than likely their shop rate is probably $100 an hour or so. They may have taken the nut off the axle to remove the knuckles off so they can put the balljoints in a press. Stripping a axle nut and three threads I think is a little hard to believe. The lowers on the 3rd gens are about $50 a side.

Also no need to post the same question in multiple forums. Please stick to one thread for the same subject.

10-22-2008, 03:55 PM	#1
Snowman08 Wannabe Elite Explorer Google search 2004 xlt Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Help, Lower ball joint replacement Hello to all, I am on vacation in West Virginia and having the car serviced at a local Ford dearler. I was told I needed lower ball joint replacements, 91,500 on 2004, xlt. Just received a call that the wheel axle nut was stripped and three threads were ruined, so for another 500 bucks I would get a new nut and axle. My question is why would they need to take the nut off the axle to replace the lower ball joints..? 500 bucks seems high for labor and material, is it..? Is 480 bucks high for lower ball joints..? We live in Rhode Island and need a car to return... hopefully this week end. Thanks to all for the info... and guidance.. Tha snowman08

10-22-2008, 07:21 PM	#2
Sams01XplrSprt Southern Cali Explorer Newport Beach California & Bay Area California 2001 Sport (sold) Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 15,633 Vehicle Specs	welcome i need to replace my lower ball joints too and i got an 01 sport __________________ 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 sohc engine. Mods include: dual 40 series flowmasters & high flow k&n air filter & removed silencer & yellow fog lights (sold for $1,800) as of 2-26-12