Are ball joints DIY?
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 831
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From: Denver,CO USA
"88 300CE- First Year Production
What you need to do is remove your control arms, and then the old bjoints must be pressed out and the new joints be pressed in. An alignment will need to be done afterwards. Dropped the control arms off at a shop which will be around $20 for both sides.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
sorry to revive this one, but after a few places gave me the old "that's like bringing your own eggs to a diner" routine, I finally got a quote on doing the R&R on the ball joints if I bring my own parts - $150!!!!!!!!!!!! He said it's like two hours of labor, even with the parts out of the vehicle.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!
Anybody know of an honest shop in Houston that will do this job for less than $50?
WTF?!?!?!?!?!
Anybody know of an honest shop in Houston that will do this job for less than $50?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,496
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
I bought some ball joints recently with my new tierods, but ****, those things are in there like a ****. They do need to be pressed out. I gave up, but found that mine were ok as they were... i'll just save the new ones until later.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 303
Likes: 1
From: Northern California
It changes all the time
sorry to revive this one, but after a few places gave me the old "that's like bringing your own eggs to a diner" routine, I finally got a quote on doing the R&R on the ball joints if I bring my own parts - $150!!!!!!!!!!!! He said it's like two hours of labor, even with the parts out of the vehicle.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!
Anybody know of an honest shop in Houston that will do this job for less than $50?
WTF?!?!?!?!?!
Anybody know of an honest shop in Houston that will do this job for less than $50?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 91
With the arms out of the car and the correct tool, these literally take 15 minutes. You were correct to gasp at that quote. I believe most parts stores rent the remover/installer. It's just a large c-clamp type press and nothing fancy. I did them on the car with a jack stand under the arm many times and yes it was dangerous. I could do both sides in under 1.5 hours, so if you have a spring compressor, you should tackle the job yourself. If you had walked into the shop when I was working, I would gladly take your fifty bucks for 1/2 hour of work.
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From: Boston
is a German Tank
He runs his own Chiro gig, he's a Doctor.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,062
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
With the arms out of the car and the correct tool, these literally take 15 minutes. You were correct to gasp at that quote. I believe most parts stores rent the remover/installer. It's just a large c-clamp type press and nothing fancy. I did them on the car with a jack stand under the arm many times and yes it was dangerous. I could do both sides in under 1.5 hours, so if you have a spring compressor, you should tackle the job yourself. If you had walked into the shop when I was working, I would gladly take your fifty bucks for 1/2 hour of work.
I don't know where you work, but are they hiring? I want to make $50 for taking my feet off of a desk!!!
Besides, working at McDonalds is really getting old - fkn minimum wage paying *******s! 
But seriously, although I can appreciate the "double whammy" of how you called me cheap and minimum wage all in the same sentence, at least be funny if you're going to flame me. I can appreciate pwnage when it's funny.
I think that bicylindricos comments pretty much reflect my perception of the value of the work I need, so I don't think it's too ridiculous to think that $50 is more than enough for 15 minutes worth of work. And regardless of whether or not I make $7/hr. or $700/hr, it's stupid to pay too much for anything. For $159 I could have bought a control arm with a ball joint and bushings on it, so $150 to press in the new ball joints is a little much IMHO.
I don't want to have some kind of issue with you, so let's agree to only insult each other further if we get to know each other better first. At least then it's funny.
Hey Henry - thanks for having my back, bro!
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 831
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From: Denver,CO USA
"88 300CE- First Year Production
I'm really having a tough time as right now I'm doing ball joints on my 4-wheel drive, upper and lower. (no control arm) 4-wheel told me $600 to start, and you see what rode I took. so happy the explorer is domestic (alot cheaper to work with)
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,496
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
hahaha, I actually tried that on mine, but they wouldn 't budge so I left em.
Don't get mad at me, that is the first time I have ever taken a large heavy object to my baby.... 
NAPA only sells parts here, you guys have service centers huh?
Guess what, it is my B'day. I can now rent cars. I am so old.
Don't get mad at me, that is the first time I have ever taken a large heavy object to my baby.... NAPA only sells parts here, you guys have service centers huh?
Guess what, it is my B'day. I can now rent cars. I am so old.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
