The mechanic gave me this price to replace my front two lower ball joints. Is that normal.
6 Likes
Most of the cost is for labor to remove the spindles and suspension to get to the ball joints. Assuming a $100/hour shop rate and $75 per pair of ball joints, it should take about 6.5 to 7 hours. That does seem a bit high; I did mine in 3 to 4 hours.
A few months later, I replaced the arms too to get new bushings. I also replaced the upper arms and tie rods while I had everything apart. I did all the work myself, so I saved on labor costs.
5 Likes
It’s about right for a shop. It’s not an easy job and needs special tools, but the price is still a bit high.
4 Likes
As a mechanic, it really annoys me when people complain about a repair bill. You’re paying for a professional service, and tools, knowledge, and experience all cost money. If you don’t like the price, you can try fixing it yourself.
4 Likes
I paid AUD 680 for a ball joint replacement ($110), a uni joint replacement ($60), a wheel alignment ($79), and 3 hours of labor ($145 per hour).
3 Likes
I live in LA and paid $300 to have both of my lower ball joints replaced with the same Moog ball joints at a shop.
2 Likes
Do people still not get how hourly pay works? Every time I see a quote, people complain without realizing they’re paying for the technician’s hourly wage. It adds up fast, especially if the job takes several hours. Then you add the cost of parts, any extra charges from the dealership or parts supplier, and the shop’s markup.
1 Like
Ask for an itemized quote. It will show you where each part of the cost comes from so you can see if they’re overcharging for anything. If it’s just the lower ball joints, the Moog ones are around $40 each, I think. With the right tools and considering rust, it should only take about 3-4 hours to replace both lower joints. I don’t know the exact details, but that price seems a bit high.