Help, Lower ball joint replacement

[Snowman08]

Hello to all, I am on vacation in West Virginia and having the car serviced at a local Ford dearler. I was told I needed lower ball joint replacements, 91,500 on 2004, xlt. Just received a call that the wheel axle nut was stripped and three threads were ruined, so for another 500 bucks I would get a new nut and axle.
My question is why would they need to take the nut off the axle to replace the lower ball joints..? 500 bucks seems high for labor and material, is it..? Is 480 bucks high for lower ball joints..?
We live in Rhode Island and need a car to return... hopefully this week end.
Thanks to all for the info... and guidance..
Tha snowman08

 

[japracer4]

sounds like you are getting taken for a ride. went on my napa wholesale account and those balljoints list at $66.29 each. so add a few bucks for the stealership brand. them they must ne charging you $100/hr for their labor. also i think it's easier to remove the 1/2 shaft when doing the balljoints. but if they dtripped the threads when taking it off why do you have to pay for the parts plus extra labor for (1) a part that they damaged and (2) a part that was already being removed in their original labor estimate. mistakes happen everyday. my guys do at my shop sometimes. that doesn't give them the right to give it to you in th a$$. just my .02 :thumbdwn::thumbdwn:

 

[Snowman08]

sounds like you are getting taken for a ride. went on my napa wholesale account and those balljoints list at $66.29 each. so add a few bucks for the stealership brand. them they must ne charging you $100/hr for their labor. also i think it's easier to remove the 1/2 shaft when doing the balljoints. but if they dtripped the threads when taking it off why do you have to pay for the parts plus extra labor for (1) a part that they damaged and (2) a part that was already being removed in their original labor estimate. mistakes happen everyday. my guys do at my shop sometimes. that doesn't give them the right to give it to you in th a$$. just my .02 :thumbdwn::thumbdwn:

Thanks for the 2 cents... It confirms what I was thinking, but wanted to be sure from other sources.. Snowman08