Re: Ball Joint and shock replacement

From: Josh Battles (josh.lists@omg-stfu.com)
Date: Fri Mar 03 2006 - 15:23:15 EST

On Fri, March 3, 2006 1:06 pm, Alberto Aguirre Jr wrote:
>
> OK on here people make it sound like its an easy or at
> leasy do-able by most people task. Maybe I am
> misinterpreting. The last I guy I called asking how
> much he'd do it for, kinda wigged out. As soon as I
> mentioned Ball Joints and Bushings he made a wincing
> sound. He said "that is a bog job and every
> mechanic's nightmare" Is he overdoing it at all?
> Should I leave it to him for anywhere at $150-200, an
> ASE Certified mechanic, doing it from home to watch
> the kids on his own? Or should I attempt to do it
> myself and save $200?

If you've never done any sort of mechanical work it's going to take you quite
some time. If you have airtools it'll be much faster than with handtools.
The first time I did it (with airtools) it took me about an hour to do one
lower joint and I'd consider myself very mechanically inclined.

If you're a little weary about it, turn your wheels all the way to lock and
stick your head in there and take a look at what you're going to have to deal
with. The rivets are about ½" diameter and would need to be drilled or
sheared out, then the new joint bolted in.

Shocks are easy though, with a lift and airtools you can do them all in about
90 minutes. Without a lift or airtools you're probably looking at 2 hours,
maybe more.

Should you attempt to save yourself $200? That all depends on how valuable
your time is worth. It was worth it for me. 

-- 
- Josh
www.omg-stfu.com

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