Ball joints.

[Matt Johnson]

Went in for tires and alignment and told both ball joints are weak and need to be replaced. What should I expect with price for parts and install?

[RoyLPita]

Were they the lower ball joints or upper? Either way, the entire arm that the ball joint is in would have to be replaced. If it is the lower, Ford made the lower control arms out of stamped steel instead of aluminum since mid 2006. I do not know whether or not the dealer would sell you those for your MM.

[Matt Johnson]

No idea. This sounds expensive. (Not as much as a new engine, but nevertheless...)

[RoyLPita]

No idea. This sounds expensive. (Not as much as a new engine, but nevertheless...)

Just in case, try and get a 2nd opinion elsewhere. There's always a chance that the 1st place was screwing you.

[Marauderjack]

Went in for tires and alignment and told both ball joints are weak and need to be replaced. What should I expect with price for parts and install?


How did they determine the ball joints are "weak"???:confused:

Sounds to me like they were "jerkin' yo chain"!!!:mad2:

What, if any, symptoms or problems are you having??:cool:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[Jon01]

I got the same response(lower right only for mine) from a shop I trust when I dropped it off for front tires and an alignment. Car has 130k on it, I verified it myself, there is some play in there...must be getting to be that time.
They weren't saying it's completely shot but it is worn to the point there is enough play they didn't think an alignment would hold.
Moog makes replacement joints without the entire arm, but you have to get the old one out which is usually a press out/press in deal. Thats what they were planning on doing for mine, said it'd be about $300/each side for parts/labor to do lowers.
Going off of part prices on fastpartsnetwork.com it doesn't differentiate between steel/aluminum arms but there isn't much price difference between all of the listings for an 07 CV and an 03/04 MM.
I'd just planned on getting arms off of a low mile rearended panther from a JY for $25 each and sticking them under there when I swap springs around.
If your uppers are dead then that's much cheaper/easier. You can get the complete arms from Ford or Napa for under $100 each and swapping them in shouldn't be as labor intense as the press in/out lowers.
Edit-symptoms on mine, couldn't get but a TINY wiggle grabbing the top/bottom of the tire and trying to shake it. Tracks straight and doesn't do any strange boogies over ruts and joints in the roads. Had no idea they were getting worn until the shop called and I saw it with my own eyes.