Ball Joint Replacement Question

JHanchera · July 18, 2011

I just put a Rough Country 2" level on my 2011 Silverado. I am not experiencing any problems at the moment, but I am aware that down the road I am going to need to replace the ball joints because they will wear out early. I was just wondering if someone could tell me the price of new ball joints, as well as an estimate of how many miles it will be until they need to be replaced (the truck has 1500) miles. I just want to be prepared for what is coming down the road. Thanks guys.

cariveau · July 18, 2011

Mine stock '07 Sierra crew cab has 65k it and the ball joints are shot. Gonna go to the dealer and see if they will replace under warranty.

Check out O'Reilly's... they have Moog ball joints but get ready to drop some cash especially if you pay to get them installed. I am not sure which lowers I would need yet and it looks like the uppers have to have the whole control arm replaced. I am looking at $250 a side just for parts... Ooch. The frigin factory ones aren't even greasable, junk!

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search/B...&brand=Moog

NickS · July 18, 2011

I've got probably about 40,000 miles with some type of leveling kit on mine with no issues.

mhenshaw · July 18, 2011

No one will ever be able to tell you when you will need to replace a part. Stock trucks have needed ball joints with 30k miles while leveled trucks have gone to 100k. The Moog upper ball joints will cost you 250-300 dollars and are not hard to install. If you can take your strut out you can replace the contol arms. I have a couple pictures in my garage of my control arms.

JHanchera · July 18, 2011

Alright thanks guys. I'm just having second thoughts about having installed this level, and if I am going to have to spend alot of money to keep replacing ball joints, I want to remove it.

blackout07 · July 18, 2011

Alright thanks guys. I'm just having second thoughts about having installed this level, and if I am going to have to spend alot of money to keep replacing ball joints, I want to remove it.

My truck has been leveled/lifted for almost 4 years with no problems. You are putting a mild kit on there and you will likely be just fine. This is not something to stress over.

ruggedlife · July 19, 2011

you can afford a brand new 2011 truck but in anywhere from 30k to 80k miles from now you cant afford a few hundred bucks? and whether its leveled or not they will still wear out....

JHanchera · July 19, 2011

The question is not wether I can afford them or not, I was just trying to figure out what the time frame will be until I need to replace them, and how much it will cost. I appreciate your help guys, I just allow myself to get more worried then I should. And when cariveau said that it'd be about $300, did he mean per side, or total? Thanks for the help.

cariveau · July 20, 2011

The question is not wether I can afford them or not, I was just trying to figure out what the time frame will be until I need to replace them, and how much it will cost. I appreciate your help guys, I just allow myself to get more worried then I should. And when cariveau said that it'd be about $300, did he mean per side, or total? Thanks for the help.

You can get all four ball joints at Rockauto.com for $344.40 w/ shipping. Going throught the local O'Reillys is around $500 for all... I haven't ordered yet still trying to figure if they are shot or not. Might have to swing by the dealership and have them give me a quote. Ryan