ball joints or tt first?

[patrick112390]

hi, im in the midst of doing shackles and a tt, and i realised... when i go in to have my car aligned after the tt,,, they will say all 4 of my ball joints are shot... and they are.. (squeeking like hell). so my question is... what should i do first... the tt? or ball joints?.... all of this would be right before an alignment.... i dont wanna have to get 2 alignments..

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Put your ball joints in then do the TT. The TT is the easy part.

 

[patrick112390]

Put your ball joints in then do the TT. The TT is the easy part.

but wouldnt i have to re-align the truck after the ball joints?... or can i do my tt with a crappy alignment post ball joints- then go in for a massive alignment
what you think about these ball joints? 99 bucks for all 4!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...viewitem=&item=250222151830&_trksid=p3907.m32

 

[Millertime1987]

I would say if the shop you are gonna take your ex to you trust have them price it out for you. The parts themselves are inexpensive. The expensive part will be the labor cause they need to take apart the whole front end. Total for the replacement, parts and labor would be like 450 to 500.

 

[patrick112390]

I would say if the shop you are gonna take your ex to you trust have them price it out for you. The parts themselves are inexpensive. The expensive part will be the labor cause they need to take apart the whole front end. Total for the replacement, parts and labor would be like 450 to 500.

well my plan was to buy the parts then bring em in- i work at a dealership and get 10% on parts and 50% on labor with those figures what do you think will be the cost?

 

[parad1mg]

for what i know, ball joints always comes first.. even if you did a TT before you're ball joints they'll tell you that they cannot give you an alignment since the ball joints are shot and the point of getting one would be useless..

it would be ball joints, TT the get an alignment.. that's what i did anyway..

i got my uppers at ebay and MOOG lower joints at rockauto.. i spent around $800 max for 4 ball joints, lifetime alignment, front powerslots, rear NAPA rotors and all around Hawk Pads..

go DIY.. no labor fees and a lot of hands on learning experience... fun too

 

[patrick112390]

for what i know, ball joints always comes first.. even if you did a TT before you're ball joints they'll tell you that they cannot give you an alignment since the ball joints are shot and the point of getting one would be useless..

it would be ball joints, TT the get an alignment.. that's what i did anyway..

i got my uppers at ebay and MOOG lower joints at rockauto.. i spent around $800 max for 4 ball joints, lifetime alignment, front powerslots, rear NAPA rotors and all around Hawk Pads..

go DIY.. no labor fees and a lot of hands on learning experience... fun too

gooood gawwwd 800 bucks..... well with all the stuff you got thats great... but at 17... funds are a little tight.. lol so i think a 300 (ballpark) max... thats why i say i buy the $120 ebay set- go in and labor would be 50% off of whatever...

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I would look elsewhere for the upper control arms & lower ball joints.

When they state

These are brand new, high quality, direct fit OE replacements that will give years of trouble free service. Depending on our current stock, they may or may not come with grease fittings.

this usually means overpriced low quality junk.

Since depending on their stock if they have greaseable or sealed means they are buying from two different vendors & getting them as cheap as they can.

 

[patrick112390]

I would look elsewhere for the upper control arms & lower ball joints.

When they state this usually means overpriced low quality junk.

Since depending on their stock if they have greaseable or sealed means they are buying from two different vendors & getting them as cheap as they can.

i meannn they have a 100% feedback on 10,500 people? so i might just get them.... and start on a friday evening.... i think i can do it... any sugestions like DO- AND DONT DO'S


what about these?...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-0...004QQitemZ140212783645QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Just buy quality parts and be done with it. For me, nothing but Moog will ever go under my truck. Sure other brands may have a lifetime warranty, but when they fail and have to be replaced, you still have to get another alignment whether the replacement part was free or not. In my area alignments run $40, two alignments can eat any savings from using inferior parts as well cause more pain having to swap parts. I have come to my Moog only requirement via trail and error, and Moog parts have never let me down.

 

[patrick112390]

Just buy quality parts and be done with it. For me, nothing but Moog will ever go under my truck. Sure other brands may have a lifetime warranty, but when they fail and have to be replaced, you still have to get another alignment whether the replacement part was free or not. In my area alignments run $40, two alignments can eat any savings from using inferior parts as well cause more pain having to swap parts. I have come to my Moog only requirement via trail and error, and Moog parts have never let me down.

thanks for your input evan!, i think thats just what i will do... if you would be so kind as to send me the moog links to all 4?

btw mine is a v8 awd 97' mounty

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I just got my parts from O'riley Auto- they carry a full line of Moog. I'd just find a local parts store that carries moog and insist on only moog parts.

 

[patrick112390]

I just got my parts from O'riley Auto- they carry a full line of Moog. I'd just find a local parts store that carries moog and insist on only moog parts.

oh! thats good the closest oriely is 60 miles.... uhhhhhh

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Well, find a parts store that carries Moog and support local business. I shop at one parts store, they give me a discount as a result and if I need things after hours, I can call and get em.

 

[patrick112390]

Well, find a parts store that carries Moog and support local business. I shop at one parts store, they give me a discount as a result and if I need things after hours, I can call and get em.

yea... i will have to do some callin. i just went out and got an impact gun... because the thing is rusty and will take some force... did you use one? people tell me it will be so much easier..

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I haven't had an impact up until recently

- do yourself a favor and rent the press from Auto Zone to mash those LBJ's out.

 

[patrick112390]

I haven't had an impact up until recently

- do yourself a favor and rent the press from Auto Zone to mash those LBJ's out.

yea i think im gonna do that..... ok so here is how im gettin all of them

ebay, moog upper driver side=$59 shipped
tommorow-
advance auto, moog lowers=$51 a piece
autozone, upper pass side duralast=$40

i got 3/4 of them moog so thats good enough i think..

so you think i will really need the press? i mean ii was gonna just use a BFH and pound them out.... last resort, a dremel

 

[MountaineerGreen]

A press and PB blaster will save you some time, a sore shoulder and ringing ears. I did my LBJ's the first time with cheap parts and a BFH. Second time was a press and quality parts. The press makes it so much easier. AZ will rent you the press for free, you pay a deposit, then get it all back when you return it.

Have you seen my how to thread?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188225

 

[patrick112390]

A press and PB blaster will save you some time, a sore shoulder and ringing ears. I did my LBJ's the first time with cheap parts and a BFH. Second time was a press and quality parts. The press makes it so much easier. AZ will rent you the press for free, you pay a deposit, then get it all back when you return it.

Have you seen my how to thread?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188225

i have read all up on your threads and when im ready to do the install, im gonna print out all the pictures n such so i can go step by step.. but 99 bucks for a rent? idk if i will have that much to spare even if i do get it all back..

 

[MountaineerGreen]

You can return it at any time and get your money back. I charged it on my credit card, they returned every penny. Its worth the "cost" I'm telling you.