I am going to get the work done at a local shop instead ($375 quote for pats/labor), are there any upgrade parts (aka non-Ford stockers) I should get?
I made the same mistake once( by just buying the ball joints). You should just buy 04 cobra control arms and have them installed, it will be the same price.
www.stangsuspension.com ~ coupon code "stangnet". Either go with 03/04 cobra control arms and swap them yourself (not hard, really), or go with Steeda x2 baljoints and do it your self. If you replace the balljoints yourself you just have to find somebody with a press to get the old balljoints out and the new ones in.
I just called back to ask her specifically what the problem was, she said "the lower ball joints are bad. The uppers are fine" I don't really know anything about the a-arm/ball joints/front suspension so I asked whether "ball joints" meant both sides or just the driver's side and she still said "the lower ones on the driver side". i dunno? Mine is lowered with Eibach Pro-Kit and Mach 1 shock/struts.. I think I'll do the Cobra a-arms like everyone is saying I think I'll pick up those Cobra ones... We did my springs in my garage but I think I'll have the shop do the a-arms. Too cold and not enough time. Thanks guys.
whoever you bare talking to doesnt know what they are talking about. there is one lower BJ per side and it takes minimal time and skill to install them. i can do them in my driveway in less than an hour. BTW our cars dont have upper ball joints. so i hope they havent gone bad
for the price of the cobra arms i would just go with them. let me know if you need any help with the install. i do that kinda stuff everyday at work.
i did the 03 Cobra control arms with ball joints already in them...cost me 137.50 for the set from johnbleakleyford.com install was easy.
How is this not tech? yeah, I know nothing about ball joints but I don't remember seeing any really odd things while doing springs/shocks. Upper ball joints Anyways, yeah, I know the a-arm job is pretty simple. We did my springs/shocks about 2 years ago in my driveway during the summer with hand tools and jacks. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to remove the a-arms, especially now with aftermarket springs. However, it's cold as heck and the extra set of hands I had that summer is currently off at college. So I'm just going to pay a shop for the labor, darn easy money for them. I looked at the Ford paperwork when I picked up the car, it says "NEEDS LOWER BALL JOINTS (2 EACH)" at 2 hours each. 4 hours and parts for $621. I just wonder if they were going to replace the ball joints even though it seems it would be cheaper to just put in new a-arms. I was quoted 2 hours labor to install a set of new a-arms from a different dealership. friggin dealerships. Cost $180~ shipped for 03/04 a-arms from GEF.
IN My experience ford service department could care less that Ford Racing Makes all these parts for our cars. And you are right about labor to install parts some charge more than twice as much as others.
Since the X2 ball joints were mentioned, does anyone know if anyone offers them already pressed into control arms? (Save a little labor and get new inner A-arm bushings in the process )
if i were u i would just do them myself. i found that the job by the books is 3.1 hours so cost will vary by shop. they arent hard i have done many you should be able to get them done.
yeah, i even asked once if i bought the parts through the dealer and had them install it, whether it would have a warranty. they basically told me if it wasn't stock, it would void everything. i wish we were closer, there's been tons of mod you said you'd help with I'm debating it, even 2 hours shop time (at minimum) is worth maybe 4 hours of my time. Just time is tight with school and full time work... but still... so easy... arg
