Ball joint replacement

[Postal]

Hi guys,
Just had my car up for RACQ check for presale and they have mentioned there is too much movement in the upper/lower ball joints. Car has only done 65,000k's, stock tyres, 2" lift, not sure if this is normal or not?
How much should I expect to be charged in labour to have these replaced? Need to work out if I'm better off just buying the tools or not.
Cheers.

[nylate]

Very normal mate!
Some have gone with as little as 10000kms

[MightyMouse]

I'm surprised your surprised...... crap quality stock ball joints have been a common theme for years now. If you need information then search would likely return lots of information.

[SeaComms]

Interestingly you will find if you take it to a dealer they will most likely tell you they are within spec... For roadworthy the vertical movement in the top balljoint is pretty much 0, but Jeep specs allow up to around 0.5mm vertical movement in the top joint and about 0.5mm horizontal movement in the lower joint (figures are from memory and most likely not accurate). On a solid axle vehicle prone to rhythmical vibrations (aka death wobble) those figures are absurd!

Mine were replaced under warranty at about 75000km, after complaining about them since around 60000. I had to get an independant roadworthy to say they were unacceptable before they would change them. Once changed all my front end wobbles went away.

It will depend what you replace them with as for cost. If you go with stock they are very expensive and plastic coated internally hence early failure. Aftermarket are cheaper and much better quality (ie Synergy or similar). Fitting is up to you. Not rocket science by any means but near impossible without the right tools. IIRC wooders was stocking or getting in some of the clamp presses required to do the job.

Sent from a tiny keyboard with fat fingers, apologies for my spelling. .

[Postal]

Thanks for the info guys, I will source some of the Synergy units and work out if it's something that I will do myself.

[Rock God]

Originally Posted by Postal

Hi guys,
Just had my car up for RACQ check for presale and they have mentioned there is too much movement in the upper/lower ball joints. Car has only done 65,000k's, stock tyres, 2" lift, not sure if this is normal or not?
How much should I expect to be charged in labour to have these replaced? Need to work out if I'm better off just buying the tools or not.
Cheers.

If your selling it just take it to a tyre workshop as it will cost you the same. Labour on mine was $300 to install with a alignment.

[Hotdognz]

Originally Posted by Postal

Thanks for the info guys, I will source some of the Synergy units and work out if it's something that I will do myself.

Good idea to replace with aftermarket units it will save the buyer of your jeep the same issue later on.