Ball joints on a 03 chev silverado 1500

[Duddin]

So the shop is telling me that I have to replace the entire control arm I cant just do a ball joint. Is there any way around this that ya'll know of? I would really like to not have to do the entire arm as it will be about $1k just for the ball joint going out.

 

[SPARK PLUG]

2 wheel drive or 4 ? 2 door or extended cab?

 

[mtnrider]

you can get replacment ball joint from NAPA or carquest. for your pick-up. Id find a differant shop if I was you.

 

[Duddin]

4WD and ext cab. I know there is some difference in weather they were bulilt early or late in the year because its when they pull up my vin that they find this out. I have had it to 3 different shope and all said the same thing.

 

[M7ZR6]

The ball joints have been like this since 99 when that body style came out. Not sure why it was designed like that, but I know the shops are not BSing you.

 

[B C]

I think NAPA does list the ball joint separately. But, the labor to install the new joint in the old arm probably outweighs just replacing the whole arm. $1k is way too much, GM arms are about $160; and can easily be installed in an hour.

 

[Duddin]

Well of course they had their mark up and labor in the cost I was planning on doing it myself any how.

 

[Q-BALL]

here's my experience: 03' sierra 2500HD, took it into dealer(june 08) for leaking trans.cooler line,told them i'd wait for it. Service advisor comes to waiting room an hr. later and says that the line will be replaced and while inspecting the vehicle they determine all the ball joints are out of spec. Said they made a call and they are covered under my extended warr. and would i like them replaced. Naturally, i said yes. Well, when the truck is finished i'm looking at the paperwork and see where all the control arms are also replaced.I asked what was wrong with them and was told the the ball joint/arm are a pressfit unit and will only be covered by replacing the entire assembly. From what was explained to me was that if just the ball joint is pressed out it stretches the socket hole and pressing a new joint in doesn't always hold up and they can come apart. Up here in my neck of woods the control arm assembly is around $300 apiece at the parts stores.

Forgot to mention: replacing control arms also requires a front end alignment,glad none of that expense came out of my pocket that day!

 

[Clarke673]

for around $1500 you could get a procomp front end wiht new a-arms.