Ross L

So I got an estimate of my death wobble from a local shop, I got there thinking it would be $400 tops and to my surprise it was more than double. I am 16 with low income and I need new tires bad just got enough money to get them but it is either the tires or the DW fix... How hard would it be to install these myself the labor is where all my money would be going.

N20jeep

all of this is easy enough to fix yourself in less than a days work.

and the specialty tools needed can be rented at most parts stores. and the parts will be cheaper if you buy them yourself also.


btw 6.4 hours just for balljoints on a d30 is rape.

tiwvr1

They SCREWED u, I HATE shops like that, I call it double dipping, charged you full labor for upper and lower bjs, should of been charged for upper labor, and then .2 hours extra for lowers. PLUS I wonder if they really replaced BJ cause they didn't charge you for the part, only labor.

Jim_K

This makes me want to go get a job workin there! haha do it your self its not to hard, + makes u get to know your jeep that much better.

1988cherokee

Holy Hell I gotta start charging my customers more. Doing ball joints is pretty involved but once you get every thing apart you have access to do upper and lower at the same time so there is no need for them charging that much in labor. My labor guide I use says 2.5 a side sevice time.

bubbasparks

70 bucks an hour. Here in chicago, most shops charge 80-85 an hour. Did they atleast walk you back there and show you they were bad. Or just tell you. My buddies shop walks the customers back there and shows the customer.

Ross L

Thanks I posted cause I felt like it was overkill on the price...If you guys have any links showing some ways to do this or advice that would be helpful I will be researching it until I figure it out.

caged

search ball joint replacement on jeep cherokee on youtube. it couldn't get much easier.
you can rent the ball joint press from most auto part stores, just have to pay the retail price for the kit, but you get it all back when you return it.

i just did all 4 balljoints and my outer tie rod end in less than 2 hours. you have to remove the upper ball joint to get the lower out anyways.

i hate shops that charge by the book per part. some people are crazy trusting them and paying that.

buysellny

Mine wobbled at 50 to 55 mph. I bought used Jeep tires on craigslist that were like NEW for 65 bucks from some guy who just got swampers.. Those tires are ALL over craigslist for cheap!.. I paid another 175 into a 4 wheel balance and mount with a wheel alighnment at Mavis Tire.

Works perect ever since wobble gone..

Works perfectly at 100mph

Bustedback

tiwvr1 nails it. You got double dipped buddy. They never should have charged the full amount of labor for each ball joint.

Ross L

I was so close to doing it to they almost had me man that would have sucked takes me like 2 months to get $800

sandaddik2

you can get the ball joint remover tool from harbor freight for like 40 bucks, i have one and it works great, the rest is fairly simple to figure out and nothing fancy to it. id go back to that shop and shove that estimate somewhere where the sun don't shine

Paco182

Start with the trackbar. I've been told it's the problem 90% of the time on XJ's. I replaced the upper and lower bolts on mine. $30 for grade 8 bolts and 2 hours of wrenching/drilling fixed my DW.

Ross L

I was going to start with ball joints but trackbar is cheaper so I will start with that. What did you have to drill?

Paco182

Lower bushing sleeve. Drilled it out to fit a 7/16 inch bolt to remove any play. Kept a trickle of water on it to keep the rubber from melting. As for the uppers here is what I did.