Ball Joints

[Ian5700]

What have other people payed to have the lower ball joints done?

The lowest quote i have got to do both lower ball joints (grinding and bouncing nicely when turning and over bumps) and all 4 CV boots (mine are perished) is 540.00, inc. of parts and labour.

One ford dealer that was called for parts suggested that you had to buy the ball joint complete with the whole wishbone, called another ford dealer and was told that you could just buy the ball joint on its own, hopeless.

I would the ball joints with the grease nipples, but as mine are in a bit of a state, i was thinking about getting them done quickly.

 

[Howard]

Guess what... I have the ball joint press in my garage. The Moog joints run about £100 the two. CV boots are about £25 each. So thats £200 for the parts and a days labour to fit them. Overall £540 is not a bad price. The deal who wanted to change the wishbone complete is also right as Fords recommend that.

 

[shytot4x4]

Buy the parts from America! Then DIY or pay a friendly mechanic to do the labour.
www.rockauto.com list a variety of makes of bottom ball joints (separate ones, not with wishbone) from $9.15 to $29.79 US Dollars. Outer CV joint boots are $7.37 USD each and inners are $9.52 US Dollars each. Shipping will be cheaper and quicker than you think and here's a discount code which is valid until 27th Feb 2007: 563762513926. When you get to the checkout enter the code into the 'How did you hear about us?' box.
Having said that I just did a 'pretend' order for you and the parts come to $52.08 USD and shipping is a whopping $67.88 USD (beacuse it's a split order sent from 2 locations - 2 lots of postage). On the bright side that's $119.96 USD for the parts inc delivery which is about £62 GB Pounds.

Hope this helps.

Simon H

 

[Ian5700]

Food for thought. I think i place that quoted 540.00, said the ford ball joints were something under 100.00 for both and then 12.50 or 15.00 for cv boots, they said they had 'universal ones' that would fit most things.

If i order the parts from rock auto that will take some of the sting out of it, as long as i could aviod getting hit with vat, but i am still left with paying 5-7 hours labour.

 

[Howard]

That is true but it quite an involved job that is very time consuming.

 

[Ian5700]

Yeah it doesn't sound like a fun job with just a jack, it is almost something you want a lift for, fiddling with regreasing the cv joints. Do you just cut the old boots off and slide the new boots on, or do you take the half axle out of the diff, etc?

Did you do yours yourself Howard? Did you have to do the CV boots as well? My CV boots are bad, like stripped, but there are perished.

 

[Howard]

Yes I did the whole job myself and it wasn't fun. You have to remove the drive shafts and take the cv joints apart to fit the new boots. Damm tight cir-clips, nearly took off a finger. The ball joints weren't too bad if you can get the old ones out.

 

[shytot4x4]

I never said it would be easy!!
I haven't done these jobs on an Explorer but I suspect that the biggest stumbling block for a home DIYer would be gaining access to a suitable press for fitting the new ball joints.
I hate getting ripped off in the UK when parts are a fraction of the cost in the US...

Simon H

 

[Ian5700]

Howard, did you do the upper ball joints as well, the ones that come complete with the control arm? I was told mine were good, as the quote is high already this was good.

 

[Howard]

Nope just did the lower joints. My uppers were fine too.

 

[Ian5700]

Well i had this done mid-week, all is correct again. Standard Ford Ball Joints were used, these ones have a rubber gatter type cover on the lower side, my old ones did not have this, so they must have been well worn with the cover being lost sometime prior. The job that they did was very good, cv boots and all.

Is there any sort of prevent. maintence that can be done on Factory Ball joints to get maximum working life, are is it just another 60,000 and then get another set? I have read hosing the cv boots off after off-roading help to prolong life, as remove sand and mud that eats away at them and makes gougs out holes, etc.

 

[UKExploder]

Whoa, ball joints & CV joints! Glad I have a 1st gen. rear wheel drive US spec Ex. Rear wheel drive won't have any CV joints or covers to worry about.

 

[Ian5700]

The 2nd gen explorers are mainly rear wheel drive as well. To avoid the use of CV joints with boots on the front axle you have to have a solid axle on the front end, the 2nd gen explorers have a live axle.

 

[DaveU]

Dammit!

My car just failed its MOT on lower ball joints need to get this done quickly and cheaply, Ian as a guide what did you end up paying in the end? I'm waiting for a quote from a local garage....

 

[Ian5700]

I think i payed about 560.00 in the end. But then this did include getting all 4 CV boots replaced, this is labour intensive as cleaning, repacking grease, etc., so if you are only getting the lower ball joints replaced it should be a lot cheaper.

The ball joints from Ford are only about 32.00 and then the vat. each. Do not get conned into buying the wishbone as well. It should take them no more than 4/5 hours.

 

[DaveU]

Thanks for the info - good tip on the wishbones - i'll put my price up when i get it!