How to tell if a ball joint is bad?
kenandcat143 asked:
I have a 1984 Alumalite xl RV/motor home with a 454 chevy engine. I took it to a shop to have an alignment done and they told me that the ball joint on the driver side is bad and that the airbags in the suspension (shocks?) are blown as well. They showed me where the ball joint was and that it wasn’t supposed to move from side to side at all, but it did slightly. As far as the air bags go, they told me that i would have a much smoother ride with them replaced because it is a pretty bumpy ride as is.
I have a 1984 Alumalite xl RV/motor home with a 454 chevy engine. I took it to a shop to have an alignment done and they told me that the ball joint on the driver side is bad and that the airbags in the suspension (shocks?) are blown as well. They showed me where the ball joint was and that it wasn’t supposed to move from side to side at all, but it did slightly. As far as the air bags go, they told me that i would have a much smoother ride with them replaced because it is a pretty bumpy ride as is.
If the ball joint is bad, how much should it cost to replace? (quoted at 230 for parts and labor)
The air bags were quoted at 225, 100 for bags and 125 for labor.
All together i am going to have to pay 550.00 for a ball joint replacement, air bag replacements, alignment, and tire rotation. If this is horrible please let me know! thank you!!
Also, the engine has a ticking or clicking sound in it. When i am in park and give it a little gas it ticks a couple of times for a few seconds and sounds fine, but when driving its a constant clicking that is gradually getting louder. What could that be?
Get discount suspension parts.
January 19th, 2010 by admin
Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:04 am
strutmasters.com
Ball joints are different prices for different vehicles. Get quotes from other parts suppliers if you want a better price. Yours are shot. There’s no adjustment and they won’t heal- just break and get you in a wreck. You should be glad your shop can do the job. Offhand, I’d say you aren’t going to find a better price unless you’re willing to settle for low quality and no gaurantee.
January 24th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Suspension Parts
seems reasonable, but just for shits and giggles get a second opinion
January 25th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Shock Absorbers
You might try to get a couple different estimates. Ok first of all a balljoint is supposed to move side to side but it should be hard to move though. but the prices sound about right for a garage . but make sure you get a warranty and that evrything your told is down in writting and ask for the old parts (if you take them to the parts store they can tell you if they were bad or not good luck
January 27th, 2010 at 7:14 am
strutmasters.com
Very reasonable for a ball joint replacement. The part costs $60. – $80.00 for an average car. Without knowing what type of truck chassis your motor-home is I would hazard a guess new ball joint would cost over $100.00. They’re a “semi bear” to replace on big stuff.
Tell you what. If I were you I’d pay the man and smile like a queen when tou leave the shop. I’ve seen some horror story’s money wise when people have their fancy Lincolns and Ford air bags replaced.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Get discount suspension parts.
Prices sound about right but I’m skeptical that you need any of it. On an old RV it’s entirely possible though. A knocking sound when you turn the wheel all the way to one side and do a slow turn is the “classic” ball joint symptom.