Im pretty sure my ball joints in the front are done. The shop said they would fix it for 500. Is there a cheaper way of doing it. Is it hard to do?

 

Do you have two hands and a leg? The second part optional. You can do it for the price of whatever ball joints you want to buy and the rental of a ball joint press.

Then however you value your time doing it.

 

Okay well since there shot should i upgrade to better ones?

 

Yep.

You can buy some from an auto parts store or order some Moog or Alloy USA ones from Rock auto or Seriousoffroad.

 

I think serious offroad has some nice ALLOY USA ones for like 200

 

http://www.quadratec.com/products/56100_0006.htm

 

Just FYI.. that link is to the joints for a JK or a WJ.
Find the ones on Serious Offroad and go with those.

 

Are they pretty simple to install?

 

Do a search, there are plenty of detailed write ups on doing ball joint replacements on here and on YouTube.

 

The Spicer joints from Serious Offroad are your best bet.

Pull wheel
Unbolt caliper (hang on lower control arm)
Pull off rotor
Unbolt hub assembly and pull it and axle shafts as one
Unbolt and pull steering knuckle off
Press out old ball joints
Press in new ball joints
Put it back together in reverse order
Grease the ball joints
Enjoy tighter front end

 

500 isn't too bad if you don't want to do the dirty work. if that includes parts.

 

I think $500 is a lot. I bought a full set from seriousoffroadproducts.com, all four joints were $100. Then I purchased a ball joint press kit for $70, that I'll have for the next time I do the job. The question is free time available, the first time can be rough but watch some YouTube videos.

 

Also, Autozone rents out the ball joint press for free.

 

A ball joint press from harbor freight is 70 bucks tho.I rather buy one and have it if you ever need it again which you will if you off road enough.

 

If you get the call joint press it also makes light work of the u joints.