Balljoints

madme · 05-05-2004, 09:33 AM

On my 95 jimmy it has 150tho k's on it and was wondering if many people have changed out the upper and lower balljoints? i have heard that it is a big job to change. mine is coming due to be changed so i was wondering if many people have done this task. thxs

CenTex · 05-05-2004, 09:50 AM

With your miles, if you're going to replace all ball joints, you might want to consider replacing the A-Arm bushings at the same time. Its easier to do while the ball joints are being replaced, than having to take it appart again to get to the bushings. I had everything replaced at a Frame Shop for about 300.

If you decide to take it to a place like Pep Boys, beware of their pricing/labor charges. They will quote you a price on removing every item as a seperate job. In other words, they will charge you for removing the wheel and replacing the upper ball joint. Removing the wheel for the lower ball joint, etc. They will also charge you to remove each ball joint to replace the A-Arm bushings (Why charge you twice for the job?)
I figure that if the stuff is appart for one ball joint, you shouldn't be charged full time for the other ball joint.

Make sure you tell the service manager that if you go by those prices, that the mechanic will have to re-assemble everything for each ball joint. (you are being charged for the full time listed for each seperate job in the book). Pep Boys wanted around 800!

madme · 05-05-2004, 10:40 AM

i didn't know about replaceing the A ram bushing but now i'l be doing that its a good idea well i have it all apart. i don't plan on taking it to a shop to be done. to tell you the turth i have had bad luck with taking any of my vehicles to a shop. i had a 92 bonneville sse i took in to have the cat changed and then go to get the car the forward sub frame was crushed right in spent a good while trying to fix it. so all the work i do to my truck i'l learn how to do it and buys the tools to do the job. thxs for your reply.

Monkeyman · 05-06-2004, 02:45 AM

How difficult is it to do yourself? I have 150k miles on my '96 Jimmy. Last time the truck was in the shop, the mechanic (whom I trust) said that the ball joints were still fine. If this is a big job, I might as well learn how to do it now rather than when I really need to. (I hope that made sense.)

Dave

rlith · 05-08-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Monkeyman

How difficult is it to do yourself? I have 150k miles on my '96 Jimmy. Last time the truck was in the shop, the mechanic (whom I trust) said that the ball joints were still fine. If this is a big job, I might as well learn how to do it now rather than when I really need to. (I hope that made sense.)

Dave

Disconnect the ball joints from the knuckle..(pickle fork or BFH) Drill or grind out the OEM rivets, the new ones come with bolts... Put knuckle back on and tighten...

for a 1st timer it will be about an hour per side.

05-05-2004, 09:33 AM	#1
madme Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 322 Location: Oshawa User is: OffLine	Balljoints On my 95 jimmy it has 150tho k's on it and was wondering if many people have changed out the upper and lower balljoints? i have heard that it is a big job to change. mine is coming due to be changed so i was wondering if many people have done this task. thxs
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-05-2004, 09:50 AM	#2
CenTex Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 602 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Balljoints With your miles, if you're going to replace all ball joints, you might want to consider replacing the A-Arm bushings at the same time. Its easier to do while the ball joints are being replaced, than having to take it appart again to get to the bushings. I had everything replaced at a Frame Shop for about 300. If you decide to take it to a place like Pep Boys, beware of their pricing/labor charges. They will quote you a price on removing every item as a seperate job. In other words, they will charge you for removing the wheel and replacing the upper ball joint. Removing the wheel for the lower ball joint, etc. They will also charge you to remove each ball joint to replace the A-Arm bushings (Why charge you twice for the job?) I figure that if the stuff is appart for one ball joint, you shouldn't be charged full time for the other ball joint. Make sure you tell the service manager that if you go by those prices, that the mechanic will have to re-assemble everything for each ball joint. (you are being charged for the full time listed for each seperate job in the book). Pep Boys wanted around 800!
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-05-2004, 10:40 AM	#3
madme Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 322 Location: Oshawa User is: OffLine	Re: Balljoints i didn't know about replaceing the A ram bushing but now i'l be doing that its a good idea well i have it all apart. i don't plan on taking it to a shop to be done. to tell you the turth i have had bad luck with taking any of my vehicles to a shop. i had a 92 bonneville sse i took in to have the cat changed and then go to get the car the forward sub frame was crushed right in spent a good while trying to fix it. so all the work i do to my truck i'l learn how to do it and buys the tools to do the job. thxs for your reply.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-06-2004, 02:45 AM	#4
Monkeyman Registered User Age: 42 Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 219 Location: Wabash, IN User is: OffLine	Re: Balljoints How difficult is it to do yourself? I have 150k miles on my '96 Jimmy. Last time the truck was in the shop, the mechanic (whom I trust) said that the ball joints were still fine. If this is a big job, I might as well learn how to do it now rather than when I really need to. (I hope that made sense.) Dave
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-08-2004, 07:43 AM	#5
rlith Insane Network Engineer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,965 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. User is: OffLine	Re: Balljoints Quote: Originally Posted by Monkeyman How difficult is it to do yourself? I have 150k miles on my '96 Jimmy. Last time the truck was in the shop, the mechanic (whom I trust) said that the ball joints were still fine. If this is a big job, I might as well learn how to do it now rather than when I really need to. (I hope that made sense.) Dave Disconnect the ball joints from the knuckle..(pickle fork or BFH) Drill or grind out the OEM rivets, the new ones come with bolts... Put knuckle back on and tighten... for a 1st timer it will be about an hour per side.
	[Reply w/Quote]