Ball Joint Issues

[Matthew Klinger]

Hello all,

I have a 2002 GTS with about 15,500 miles. During my annual inspection it was found that the lower rear ball joints were beyond acceptable limits and would need to be replaced. During the inspection it was also found that the upper rear ball joints had a good deal of play to them and would certainly need changing in the near future. It was also found that both the front ball joints (uppers and lowers) were beginning to see play. I was given an estimate of roughly 2,500 to fix just the rear lowers, 4,000 to fix both the uppers and lowers in the rear and 2,000 - 3,500 to do both the fronts. They cited that 75% of the estimate was part costs. My questions are: Does this sound reasonable? Do these ball joints really cost this much? Also why would my ball joints be failing at 15,000 miles? I can understand the rears with all the torque, but the fronts? Any and all comments are welcome.
Thank you

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Total BS. At 15K there is nothing wrong with your ball joints and the $ amount they quoted you is absolute robbery. Who are these clowns anyway? Is it a dealership?

 

[Matthew Klinger]

No, not a dealership. A very honest garage. I'll be calling around to find out prices for these ball joints, $750 per just sounds way to high. Anyone have an idea of what they cost? 2002 GTS.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Darbgnik]

No, not a dealership. A very honest garage. I'll be calling around to find out prices for these ball joints, $750 per just sounds way to high. Anyone have an idea of what they cost? 2002 GTS.
Thanks in advance.

750 for the whole A-arm maybe?

 

[Bexar80]

Wow that is insane. Check out the performance ball joints from Woodhouse. All eight joints will cost you less than $750.

I also hope your shop is aware that the control arms need to be tightened at design hight under a ballast load if removed from the car.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Here's an upper ball joint for $12.46. I don't know about the quality but if your garage is charging you what they say they're gonna charge you I wouldn't be surprised to see them install a $12 part.

http://www.theautopartsshop.com/Sea...2958&Pat=auto+car-usa+Parts+Brand+PartDetails

 

[latamud]

Here's an upper ball joint for $12.46. I don't know about the quality but if your garage is charging you what they say they're gonna charge you I wouldn't be surprised to see them install a $12 part.

http://www.theautopartsshop.com/Sea...2958&Pat=auto+car-usa+Parts+Brand+PartDetails

Maybe they quoted the gold plated ball joints, LOL. Sounds like the shop saw Viper and thought $$,$$$ $core! If they're your only shop and you believe they're honest then ask them to show you where/how they get $15,000 and call their bluff.

 

[ViperTony]

Mopar quotes $12.45 for ball joints.

 

[bluesrt]

holy smackin balls george

 

[GTS Dean]

I don't think the uppers are service items, but if Woodhouse sells them, maybe they are.

 

[JST2CRZY]

I'm not sure about the rears but you can check the fronts easily to verify the shops diagnoses. Lift each wheel several inches off the ground and grab the tire at 12 and 6. Rock the tire with a good amount of force and see if you can feel any movement.
This assumes, of course, that your bearings are ok as well as the other suspension components. You may want to remove the wheel and check the torque of the rotor mounting nut. On my 96 it is 150 lb-ft, not sure if it is different for your 02?

 

[Matthew Klinger]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I spent almost a half hour on the phone with my mechanic. He plans to call woodhouse and verify that these ball joints will work. He told me that Dodge/Chrysler saw this issue with the ball joints and in 2000 tweeked the suspension. Also they do not carry just the ball joints, and the reason for the high costs is to correct the lower you need to buy the whole knuckle set up ($620/each) and for the upper you need to buy the entire control arm ($780). His policy is to not install customer parts, but is willing to make an exception here because of the huge cost savings. He must have said "cluster f***" about 5 times LOL. Can anyone recommend any other after market companies that sell Viper ball joints? I'm sad to say that since I've became a family man the viper has slipped on it's priority . Thank you all for your help. I plan to continue my research.

Thanks - Matt

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

So let's get this straight, you're still going to this mechanic after all our advice?

Why do I bother.

 

[bluesrt]

thats almost 8k with tax for ball joints hahahahahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Matthew Klinger]

What? No I am not spending 8K on ball joints! All I was saying was I believe he is confused and not trying to burn me. It's not like this is the first time I've used this guy. Who here takes there Viper to be serviced to a shop they don't trust? I can understand everyones comments on "he's trying to rip you off" cause thats the first thing I'd think AND THOUGHT... hence why I'm hear researching asking the people I feel know.

 

[bluesrt]

ok ok ok calm down

 

[MTGTS]

You might not be able to order them seperate from the dealership just like the control arm bushings. If they go bad, they want you to buy a whole new a-arm. That's not to say companies don't make parts that will work. The old parts will just have to be pressed out and new ones installed CORRECTLY. While your @ it check all your bushings and arms for cracks, the bushing are known to go bad well before ball joints.

 

[GTS Dean]

The center tubes of the bushings will take a permanent set off-center after several years. If Dodge hadn't meant for the bushings to be serviced separately from the wishbones, they wouldn't have included pullers in the Gen2 6990 Viper Service Tools kit.

Here's a handy link I just came across: http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PDFs/Moog_rubber_bushing_cross_reference.pdf

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Good info Deano. Thanks for the link.

 

[steve911]

Snake Oyl Products has just started stocking all of the suspension bushings for all gens of Vipers. Give them a call. They Helped me out...