My friend at work got an estimate of $1200 plus the cost of an alignment. I told him to run like he was on fire. Said i would throw it out here for input......anything?

That does seem high. The upper's are a complete control arm assembly so they are pricey. Seems like their labor seems awful high. Ball joints do pay well book time. Depend where you are also. My sister in law live in philly and she tries to have repairs done when she comes home to visit.

buy the parts, find the tools and follow this

http://www.explorerforum.com/f...wthread.php?t=194453

http://www.explorerforum.com/f...wthread.php?t=188225

top one is how to do the upper and bottom link is how to do the lower

I work at a Ford dealership and have a garage at home. Thats crazy, I'd have to price parts but $250 to $300 labor should be good on labor and around here $35 to $50 on alignment. Good Luck

125.00 labor per side plus parts [U] pick cheap or good stuff and 79.00 for align

1.4 for upper arms @190 each, 3.0 for lower b/joints @ 42 each. align 79.00

Mike, are your labor rates that low up there?

Here's what i sell them for...

Upper right control arm....$75.00
Upper left control arm...$70.29

Lower ball joints...$21.99 each

Laray, that's just above cost around here for aftermarket(dorman)I priced them from Lincoln at list. Even with the OE stuff it would still be below the $1200.

It would be interesting what the prices are from different parts of the country.

Guys,

Thanks so far for the feedback. I knew that $1200 figure was not right. I have no issues with paying honest pay for honest labor, but this guy, at $1200, was looking to take advantage of an unsuspecting person, in my opinion. The estimate states "aftermarket parts" too. He's at $650 in parts, $500 in labor, and some "misc charges for $45 and then tax....

379.50 labor
432.63 Ford OE parts
55.00 alignment

that kind of rip-off is way too common. ball joints are something i now refuse to do myself, done a few before and what a pain with the steering knuckles and drilling out the hardened steel rivet on the factory ones!

Thats moog parts....Been dealin with them for 20+ years.