I think hes is full of it

[polkat]

I just brought in my 2000 xlt 4x4 in for an alignment check (since I gave it a T-crank) he said thay have a list ? im like WTF they said my lower ball joints and shot, need camber caster kit, and alignment. Question 1. I never noticed any thing wrong as in clunking ect from the ball joints how can I tell if they are bad or not? 2. he said that the camber kit it like 90 dollars? I thought i seen them for like 25 dollars at napa Are these for one side or is the kit or both sides. I figured that these guys are kind of like sketchy but omg they quoted me like 750. dollars I am going to do most of the work myself and bring it back for an alignment please your responce is greatly appericated thank you

 

[LittleHorse]

with the wheel off the ground, if you can shake it and see the slack in the ball joints, then it's bad. That's as scientific as they get checking it anyway.

The caster/camber I don't know what they cost but $90 seems a little steep. They're in the $30 range for TTB, but since you have IFS I don't know. The only real way to tell if you need it is to try to align it and fail because there isn't enough adjustment. So, they would have had to set up the alignment machine knowing the ball joints were bad and an alignment was not possible.

Check the ball joints yourself and if they're bad, replace them. Then take it to a different shop for a second opinion on the caster/camber kit. If they agree, buy it online and install it yourself and bring it back for just the alignment.

 

[polkat]

thanks I just had it in our shop to check the brakes over and I should have looked at it then? I will check this over I dont think thay are bad but?

 

[Earl43P]

I can pretty much guarantee if you have a 2000 4wd with over 80k miles, your LBJ's are shot. Uppers are probably still tight.

NAPA Camber bolt kits are about $25 per kit, one kit per side (each kit has 2 bolts). Install the kits one bolt at a time when you replace the LBJs. Shouldn't move much if you are careful, so you can drive it to get it aligned (immediately).

Might as well throw 2 OTRs on it (greaseable) since they are cheap and you are getting it aligned anyway.

 

[polkat]

Well I just checked in the shop on D side there is no side to side play but when I put a bar on the bottom of the tire it raised the lbj about 3/4 inch not much on the p-side that means they are shot right ? good point on the t-rods. is there any thing else while im at the front to check and or replace I may need to change a abs sensor still checking that over

 

[LittleHorse]

yeah, I'd go ahead and replace them.

 

[polkat]

greeseable ones from what ive read moog right. there goes my weekend dang and the crappies are bightin too o well