Front end rebuild--what parts should be replaced?

[L.U. Cifer]

1995 Explorer XLT with 115K miles. 2WD automatic transmission. It's a highway-only truck. Front end has serious rattles and pops.

In dealer's words: "upper & lower control arms and linkage worn out," and they wanted $1200 to do the job. I have a reputable non-dealer mechanic that will do the bulk of the work (I don't even have a shade tree here in Miami), but I wanted some outside input on what should be replaced during this rebuild since I will probably order all the parts, or at least price them, so I know what I'm being charged for parts versus labor.

What should I for sure replace? Anything "optional" but would be a good idea to do/replace?

Also, any gotchas that a full time, but non-dealer, mechanic would not know about?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ranger7ltr]

Dealership needs to put the crack pipe down...

When I bought my 99 the front end was in sad shape...I had no idea what the history was on the truck but I could see the aftermath of no maintenance on it...

I replaced the wheel bearings and the rotors up front, the lower ball joints, the upper control arms, the inner and outer tie rod ends, the sway bar bushings and the end links, the rotors out back, and the pads all around...And finally I replaced the shocks with a set of KYB GR-2s...

The brake rotors and pads came in a set for about $170 and they are drilled and slotted...The front end parts also came in a kit for about $140... I did have to buy the swaybar bushings and end links seperately as well as the wheel bearings...And the shocks were $100 for the set as well...

My truck is a street vehicle too so I needed to have all the issues dealt with at one point and be done with it...The parts replacement are straightforward and will require an alignment after...

Since I did the work myself I can't tell you labor costs...I started one Friday morning by 8 and was at Brakecheck getting the alignment done by 4pm that day...And I did all of the work in my garage...With air tools but no lift...Removing the lower ball joint from the lower control arm and the inner/outer tie rods took about the same amount of time...

 

[jlsparky7]

He nailed it. ^

 

[L.U. Cifer]

Many thanks

Bearings/rotors/pads on front, rotors/pads on rear replaced. Shocks not too long ago: don't remember brand/model, but the recommendation came from Explorer Google Group discussions.

Given what remains from the list, any guesstimate from y'all on the hours to install/replace assuming the parts were already bought?

thanks again TO YOU BOTH

 

[alohamonte]

when i did my front end rebuild i replaced ...

1. lower ball joints (just the joints, NOT the lower control arms those things are stout and dont wear out)
2. upper ball joints and upper control arms
3. sway bar bushings and end links
4. inner and outter tie rods
5. wheel alignment (due to the new balljoints)

i use Moog parts and am very happy with the results.

if you were to buy all the parts your self, i'd guess about $250-300.

installation time... about 4-5 hours for everything if you've done it before and have the tools

i also replaced my hubs around the same time, but thats not considered part of a standard rebuild. brakes are not part of a front end rebuild either.

 

[jlsparky7]

Time is hard to tell. Do you have air tools? Every tool needed? Rusty bolts? A helper?

All that aside it shouldn't take longer than a long evening.

 

[alohamonte]

the timeframe is how long it should take a mechanic in actual time. assuming parts are $300, the $1200 quote means $900 is for labor. assuming a billing rate of $90/hour that means 10 hours which is much longer than required to do this job.

for maintance jobs like this, i've been buying the parts and then going to craigslist jobs section and getting mechanics looking for extra cash. just be sure to ask questions (like a proper job interview) and ask for references/certificate/degree. in my area, i could find a dozen certified mechanics who would do this rebuild for $200 in my driveway with their tools. i offer the rate by the job, not hour. just take it to a tire shop after for the alignment.

 

[mcnulty6807]

If I had to do mine again I would use McQuay-Norris extreme parts. I used a cheap e-bay kit for my rebuild and after 1,000 miles I am getting popping noise from my front end. I have read complaints about newer Moog parts due to them being made in China now. Also I have read that sealed ball joints and tie rods last longer than the ones with grease fittings.

Follow the sticky's in the forums and you will save loads of labor money.