ball joints, brakes & sparkplug work?

[JU]

Hi all. Had a few questions I was hoping someone could help me with. My '96 Sport (just hit 100K) was accelerating somewhat jagged & the engine light went on the other day so I brought it to the dealership for the diagnostic...$75 later they tell me I need new sparkplugs. They want to charge me $115, but I am thinking this is something I can do with the Haynes book (or maybe this board?) to guide me?

The ABS light had been going on and off for about a month when I drive too, so I got a brake inspection. Nothing had been performing out of the ordinary, but I wanted to get the tires rotated anyway. They came back and want to replace the rotors and pads on both the front and back for $600 w/ labor. I asked if new pads would be enough, but they resisted the idea because the rotors are worn. Does this seem out of the ordinary to need to replace the rotors along with the pads? The brakes were re-done 30-40K ago.

Lastly, they said three of the ball joints need tightening and they estimate this at $612. Just looking around, this seems ridiculously high. What's the risk of not adjusting these right now?

 

[JU]

Screw them, I called and told them to put her back together. I've already been looking, but any good links to replacing plugs/wires & brakes would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[general x]

Howdy and welcome to the site. Is your truck XLT by any chance? Replacing the plugs/wires arent too bad of a job. Its just some of the plugs can be a PITA to get out if you have air conditioning. (I dont know how to do the rotors iether so im hoping someone helps you )

 

[JU]

Thanks. No, it's just a Sport, no XLT. I caught a few threads on here where people broke a plug, nothing on how to actually change them so I am guessing it must be relatively easy besides? As for the rotors, I might salvage a pair and get it done by a friend of a friend who has a shop.

Feel my newbness...is it really true you can get your CEL/codes scanned at Autozone for free (I am guessing my '96 is ODBII from some threads?)?

 

[general x]

thats what i heard but i dont even know if theres a autozone in my town so i have no idea by personal experiance

BTW i changed my brake rotors with the haynes manual and everything turned out well so you should be in the good if ya got the tools and the basic knowhow....

ball joint tightening......

 

[huskyfan23]

Did they actually say ball joint tightening? How do you tighten a ball joint? On second gens you have to replace the entire control arm for your uppers, but I'm not sure what tightening the ball joints means. That's about the price for a change though. Rotors are easy, a Haynes will get you through, no problem. Spark plugs are annoying but not bad, need a long extension or 2.

 

[general x]

huskys got it right. I was wondering about the ball joint tightening as well. the only thing you would need tightening is the nut that holds it in (im thinkin first gen) but i dont see any reason that nut would ever loosen up

:s

 

[JU]

Thanks. That was the explanation from the 'service coordinator', not the mechanic, so I wouldn't be surprised if something was lost in passing the info. I actually heard the same thing that both of you have said, that the control arm would need to be replaced entirely (I think this is what is said in the haynes book too?). I appreciate the responses...

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Spark plugs: Pain in the butt, the passenger side ones are tough to get to. One requires you to remove the passenger wheel and get the plug by going up through the wheelwell. My local mechanic will do all 6 plugs for $30, plus parts. So $115 is pretty dang high.

Brakes: Your rotors could need to be replaced. The easiest way to tell is to take them off and take them to a parts store that turns them. (turning is resurfacing them for an even, clean surface). They'll measure them and see if they're turnable or if you have to replace them. A low end set of rotors/pads should cost you around $120 for the parts at a store; a better set (Wagner, for example) would be around $240. $615 is pretty dang high, but that's using factory rotors and pads, which are really expensive but last a long time too.

Ball joints: Can be extremely dangerous to drive with bad ones, but I wouldn't just hand that dealer $600. Ask around and find a reputable independent shop in your area. Midas does lifetime warranty brake pads for $40, so there's plenty of places to go for a better deal.