Alignment Help

[Btown]

Hello,
My alignment on my 2000 Explorer Sport 2WD is way out of whack. I took it to Car X today and they told me that 2 of my Ball Joints were bad. they told replace the ball joints and align the car the total cost was $580. Is this about right???? Seemed awfully high for me knowing the Ball Joints cost around $30/apiece. What do you think? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Replacing upper control arms/ball joints (they're a combined part) run a nice chunk of change - Dealer charged close to `$1k (under warranty thank god). Lower ball joints are nowhere near as expensive, so it depends on which the shop is looking to do.

 

[ricklorion]

Hello,
My alignment on my 2000 Explorer Sport 2WD is way out of whack. I took it to Car X today and they told me that 2 of my Ball Joints were bad. they told replace the ball joints and align the car the total cost was $580. Is this about right???? Seemed awfully high for me knowing the Ball Joints cost around $30/apiece. What do you think? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am having the same problem with my '95 X 2WD on the right side. I am going to replace the upper control arm (Which is only $102 shipped from www.rockauto.com) I would say do it yourself, if you can and are willing to.

 

[JDraper]

The upper ball joints can be changed with a metric socket wrench set. 3 Bolts and they come out. It's a pretty easy job. I just replaced mine...$98 each from Advance Auto Parts, and you need an alignment afterwards. The lower ball joints are only about $30, but you need a ball joint press to change them properly. I went out and bought the press for about $89 from Harbor Freight or somewhere like that.