Ball Joints...Advice.

[Shora]

The lower ball joints on the 1995 CVPI that I gave to my sister's boyfriend are gone. The right side completely broke but the left side looks bad as well as the upper ball joints.

The mechanic wants $500-$600 to replace these items. Is this a fair price?

Before I open my wallet and give him a loan (he is a poor student), how hard would it be to replace these items ourselves.

Thanks guys and I need your advice pronto. He cannot get to school without the car.

Thanks guys.

[fastblackmerc]

The lower ball joints on the 1995 CVPI that I gave to my sister's boyfriend are gone. The right side completely broke but the left side looks bad as well as the upper ball joints.

The mechanic wants $500-$600 to replace these items. Is this a fair price?

Before I open my wallet and give him a loan (he is a poor student), how hard would it be to replace these items ourselves.

Thanks guys and I need your advice pronto. He cannot get to school without the car.

Thanks guys.

Most of the cost is labor.

Are they pressed in or riveted in?

Either way you'll have to remove the spring & shock, remove the arm and either press the old ones out and the new ones in (a local machine shop can do this for you) or if they are riveted in you can grind or chisel off the rivet heads, punch out what remains of the rivets, install the new ball joint, securing them with the included screws (use locktite & whatever lock washers are supplied). Put it all back together and get the front end aligned.

[Raudermaster]

I had to have them replaced twice in my old '95. However, it cost me little to nothing, I had my cousin's shop do them for me.

[Spectragod]

They are pressed in. I did uppers, lowers, inner/outer tie rods & idler arm on my 96, took about 6 hours + an alignment, the Firestone dealer I took the car to for the alignment told me that they would have charged $900 for the labor alone. IIRC book time for what I did was around 12 hours.

SG

[larryo340]

The lowers are easy, and you can do them on the car without removing the lower control arms. You do need the Ball Joint press tool (kinda looks like a big C-clamp). I got one from Harbour Frieght Tools for about $35. More than good enough to use a couple times.
The uppers are easy too, can be done on car without arm removal, but you need an alignment right away.

[Shora]

For all that work, $500-$600 seems fair.

Is this a DIY type of job I am still not sure (usually means no).

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Autozone, Advance, etc. all loan out the ball joint press kit, for free once you return and get your deposit back. The kit comes w/ the adapters for all different sizes.

Anything is a DIY job if it can be done...

[Shora]

Autozone, Advance, etc. all loan out the ball joint press kit, for free once you return and get your deposit back. The kit comes w/ the adapters for all different sizes.

Anything is a DIY job if it can be done... A loner press kit sounds good.

I will call and find out the price of parts.

[finster101]

Be sure you know what you are doing before you jump in on this. You can get hurt here. I am not saying don't do it just be aware.

[JMan]

Be sure you know what you are doing before you jump in on this. You can get hurt here. I am not saying don't do it just be aware.

I'm with Finster, Ben. There's no bone fracture worth $500. Think about it! Would you recommend I do a security job at a small concert?

Jake

[mtenderenda]

I've replaced upper and lower ball joints, myself..Yes they are riveted in...You will have to cut the rivets and get aftermarket ball joints...The ball joint comes with bolts and it has a grease fitting...I think all cars should comes with the grease fitting, think its kind of stupid that it doesn't.

[larryo340]

I've replaced upper and lower ball joints, myself..Yes they are riveted in...You will have to cut the rivets and get aftermarket ball joints...The ball joint comes with bolts and it has a grease fitting...I think all cars should comes with the grease fitting, think its kind of stupid that it doesn't.
:confused: What year did you see rivets on, a '95 CV does not have rivets. The lower ball joints simply press in and out, while the uppers bolt in.

[Shora]

Well, thanks for the advice guys. I got the hint. I loaned him $588.00 to get it fixed some extra money for an alignment.

I wanted to try to do it with him because it can be fun when you are successful and because I hate loaning students money.

Who knows when I'll see that money but it's all good, he's a good kid.