Does $700 seem too high for ball joint and tie rod ends replacement?

[Breto31]

I just had my ball joints replaced yesterday at a shop. They charged me ~$350 for parts and labor. I was charged $190 for the parts (roughy the same price as replacements on Extreme Terrain), and the rest is 4hrs in labor. I called 2 other places and was quoted $800 and $1000.

 

[sierradmax]

BJ's and Tie rods are what... $250 in parts... Maybe $300 markup. $400 in labor isn't bad for maybe 4-5 hours of work.

 

[Rubicon88]

As I said...
Book calls for 3.6 hrs on the ball joints. Add in another 1.5 or so for the tie rods. 5-5.5 hrs for the entire job.

The above said there are times in this business garages don't like doing certain jobs. Down right loathe them.
In other words they'll make the job higher not really wanting the job but if you insist...then they'll score.

You aren't married to any one garage or quote. If you feel it's too high shop the job around.

The parts matter...quality thereof.
Moog, spicer, napa chassis, are good.

Stay away from house brands like driveworks, duralast, napa proformer, crown automotive,

House brands are inferior. Ball joint/steering/no matter.

 

[hear]

Even more bizarre...both drag link are cheaper than the TJ version.

Yeah, I detailed some of this (the XJ drag link) in the ZJ upgrade thread. I am baffled at why two identical parts have different part numbers and have a $40 price difference. Wrangler tax?

Whatever Ball Joint you go with, preferably Spicer, make sure the lower one doesn't have a grease fitting. I've seen some like that and they're worthless. The only way you can put grease in the fitting is to remove the axle shafts.

FWIW the Teraflex BJ's have a pair of offset 45 deg zerks that allow you to grease w/o disassembling anything.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah, I detailed some of this (the XJ drag link) in the ZJ upgrade thread. I am baffled at why two identical parts have different part numbers and have a $40 price difference. Wrangler tax?


FWIW the Teraflex BJ's have a pair of offset 45 deg zerks that allow you to grease w/o disassembling anything.

If you check the angle of the hole for the stabilizer pin, you will discover the difference and why they are not the same part number.

 

[TheBoogieman]

BJ's and Tie rods are what... $250 in parts... Maybe $300 markup. $400 in labor isn't bad for maybe 4-5 hours of work.

I pay $52 for 4 ball joints and 3 tie rod ends, plus the drag link price of $47 ( $99 total and free shipping) at Detroit Axle. They keep assuring me they're made in the USA when I doubt them. Until I have a problem with them, I'll keep using them. I probably just jinxed myself.

 

[hear]

If you check the angle of the hole for the stabilizer pin, you will discover the difference and why they are not the same part number.

I'm certainly not going to say you're wrong, but I had no problems whatsoever with the XJ drag link.

 

[Not_Invented_Here_]

Some VERY cheap advice, when pressing your ball joints in, take your time, ensuring that your aligned and going in straight!

Nothing harder than getting halfway in, getting the ball joint jammed half in, half out and not being able to go either direction with it!

Slow and steady wins the race! Also a touch of dawn dish soap helps and won’t hurt anything.

This was the biggest thing I learned from doing it, don't be afraid to back it out and line it up again if you need to.

 

[Not_Invented_Here_]

I pay $52 for 4 ball joints and 3 tie rod ends, plus the drag link price of $47 ( $99 total and free shipping) at Detroit Axle. They keep assuring me they're made in the USA when I doubt them. Until I have a problem with them, I'll keep using them. I probably just jinxed myself.

Are the DA ball joints comparable in size to Spicers? They look knurled, maybe oversized, in pictures, which is what I need. Obviously impossible to tell from pics but...Spicers were too small for my axle unfortunately.