Confused on Ball Joints

[Sallad420]

Hi all, OK, I phoned Ford and they told me $85 for the uppers and $85 for the lowers.

I phoned a couple of local parts stores and they told me $260 for the uppers and $65 for the lowers. I understand the uppers are way more becasue of the control arm, but why are Fords so cheap?

I was thinking of just using the Ford ones for the uppers and use aftermarket for the lowers. Even if the ford ones crap out 3 times, it'll still be cheaper than the aftemarket ones. So how can Ford charge so little for them? does theres have the whole arm attached as well? Can I mix and match ball joints?

Thanks.

 

[jasonb]

id guess you talked to someone that had no clue what they were talking about.

was that a price on parts or to replace them?

 

[etc]

I think (I'm not 100% sure) but I remember someone mentioning that ford will sell just the balljoint for the uppers, and that you have to ask for the whole assembly specifically. My guess is some dealers reuse the arm and drill out the old balljoints.

 

[Sallad420]

I was told that was the price for the Upper Ball Joint (when I phoned I didn't know the whole arm had to be swapped)

Could I drill out the old one and replace it myself? Or am I stuck with only spending $500 for two new uppers, which would suck.

Thanks for your guys replys.

 

[etc]

$260 per arm is absurd. They run about $130 with balljoint. I have no Idea about drilling it out yourself.

 

[jasonb]

a MOOG upper is better than a FOrd one and runs right at $100 from rockauto.com greasable joints so you can maintain them instead of replacing them later. i'd go that route.

 

[Robb]

$260 per arm is absurd. They run about $130 with balljoint. I have no Idea about drilling it out yourself.

Remember, that $500 is Canadian. That price is a little high, but not absurd.

 

[jasonb]

oops. i didn't even look to see that he was in canada.

 

[etc]

Whoops.

 

[Sallad420]

yup Canadain $$, I should have specified.

 

[Sallad420]

One more question, does anyone see a problem with replacing just the lowers for now? I just can't afford the $500 (Canadian) for the uppers right now.

Thanks

 

[jasonb]

not a problem.. the lowers seem go out sooner anyway.

 

[Sallad420]

I figured as much, thanks!