How to tell if Ball Joint needs replacment

[guymon]

Just had the timing belt done at the dealer ($729) and they said one of the ball joints needed replacement ($300.00 not to bad). But I asked about the control arms as I noticed the bushings were torn. That was another $800. So to do both sides (control arms and ball joints was going to be $2200 ouch).

I can do these myself and have the space and tools and knowledge, but I want to know how bad that ball joint is, or how urgent it is to get it replaced now or in two weeks?

I could have done the timing belt myself but after reading about how easy it was to be a tooth off and that it would take me 4 hours and maybe more if I didn't get it right, I just said let a pro do it.

[acools]

You test whether a ball joint is bad, by using a pry bar to test for movement. You want to see if you can get movement from the joint (you usually hear a clicking when loading that side of the suspension.

You don't mention the year and mileage, but if you are in the 90-110K mile range, the suspension could do with a revision. FCP Euro has a kit with the control arms, springs, struts, strut bearings and all the bushings and bump stops for $900.

[JRL]

That's nuts
I can get each side done at the dealer for about $300 (ish) no more!

[sjonnie]

I can do these myself and have the space and tools and knowledge, but I want to know how bad that ball joint is, or how urgent it is to get it replaced now or in two weeks?

If a ball joint has detectable play in it replace it immediately.

[guymon]

FCP has ball joints and control arms - Lemforder or Meyle - preference? Or which one might be OEM.

FYI It's a 2001 xc with 115K.

JRL - Wow I'd easily pay $600(ish) to have both ball joints and control arms done. I tried talking to the dealer saying if your doing the ball joint anyway that should lower the cost for the control arm since most the stuff is off already. That was just met with silence then a change of topic.


acools- Yes it probably needs all that stuff. But I'm not sure I want to dump all that time and money into to it. I paid $1700 for the car (It was in a fender bender) And have put over that price into preventative maintenance (trans stuff, brakes & rotors, timing belt, thermostat, new tires plus the parts to fix the fender bender). I originally picked up the car for my son to drive... but I thought it was too nice for him ;-) Just keeping it safe and on the road.