Alignment repairs?
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Alignment repairs?
I took my car into the shop this morning for alignment, and according to them my ball joints and struts need to be changed as well.
the total for alignment, ball joints, and struts came down to around $600. I can't really afford this right now. so first of all, is this a reasonable estimate, also is there anyway i can save money on this by doing it my self, for instance.
thanks,
Brandon
the total for alignment, ball joints, and struts came down to around $600. I can't really afford this right now. so first of all, is this a reasonable estimate, also is there anyway i can save money on this by doing it my self, for instance.
thanks,
Brandon
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 6
From: Stamford, New York
Car: 80 SE/TTA;88 T/A GTA;86 T/A
Engine: 4.9L Turbo; LT1; empty
Transmission: TH350; T56; empty
Axle/Gears: 3:23 disk; 4:10 disk ; 3.42 disk
Re: Alignment repairs?
ball joints and struts can be done by a moderately experienced do-it-yourselfer. Is it fun...not really, but well worth it in the end. Then again there is only one way to learn. My suggestion...take $100...get 2 ball joints, 2 front struts, and a haynes manual. If you aren't in a rush, learn it...if you got friends, have them help you/teach you, and make sure you learn it so that you can do it yourself in the future. Past that, then take it back to get an allignment which should be less than $100. All in all you end up spending $300, and you learn something along the way. Just make sure you get something similar to a haynes manual because it will let you know torque specifications and precautions and techniques you will need to do the job successfully. Either way you may end up spending $400 even if you don't have ANY of the tools needed and you will still walk away with about $200 in your pocket and tools that aren't just good for this job, tools that will be useful for the rest of your life (suggest spending a couple dollars more for companies with lifetime warranties).
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From: Calgary, AB, Canada
Car: 1982 Trans-Am
Engine: 355 w/ ported 416s
Transmission: T10, hurst shifter
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, true-trac, 3.73
Re: Alignment repairs?
84red is right IMHO.
You can rent a pickle fork, and ball joint press which are both needed. You will need a hydraulic jack, and a few jackstands.
You'll need a few big sockets (24mm?) that you probably don't own, and a 4' snipe or so. No big deal.
In my neck of the woods balljoints were $40 per, and $65 or so for a pair of entry level front shocks. You'll still get through the ordeal spending less than half of what they would have charged (assuming you like to work alone, or don't supply beer to your friends). Budget in $40 for a flat of beer and you're laughing.
You can rent a pickle fork, and ball joint press which are both needed. You will need a hydraulic jack, and a few jackstands.
You'll need a few big sockets (24mm?) that you probably don't own, and a 4' snipe or so. No big deal.
In my neck of the woods balljoints were $40 per, and $65 or so for a pair of entry level front shocks. You'll still get through the ordeal spending less than half of what they would have charged (assuming you like to work alone, or don't supply beer to your friends). Budget in $40 for a flat of beer and you're laughing.
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