2000 Blazer Ball Joints

cmoore74 · November 21, 2006

The upper and lower ball joints were replaced under warranty at 49k on the wife's 4x4 Blazer. Now at 81k they're shot again.

The stealership said they go all the time on these trucks. I had an S-10 4x4, same year, and had almost 90k on it when I traded it in. The ball joints were never done and were still good when I traded it in.

The Blazer rides just fine, is well maintanied, and is not abused. Question is, is there something else that could be causing the ball joints to fail? Could it just be the OEM ball joints suck and are hit or miss in quality?

I have heard the Moog ball joints tend to last longer than OEM, is this true? I'm debating taking the truck elsewhere to get it done as the stealership wants $1100 to replace them (this includes parts, labor, and alignment). Any idea what a going rate would be outside of the dealership?

I especially don't want to have the dealership do the work if the Moog parts are better.

Please let me know your opinions.

Thanks,

Chris

MichEnvoyBoy · November 26, 2006

Dont be offended by this, but are you lubing the ball joints at every oil change? If not, you need to be! Not the oil change place, not the dealership - YOU need to get down there and do it. If you are already greasing them yourself, switch grease. Use a synthetic grease thats got some kind of protection from water (Mobil 1, Amsoil, whatever synthetic you can find). I have a 26' Four Winns Cabin Cruiser and use Amsoil synthetic grease on my gimble bearing and u-joints. You bet that when I had my 2000 Jimmy 4wd I used the same grease on the ball joints and everything in the front end that I used on the FW! Bought it new and traded it in with 68,000 miles and those ball joints were as tight as the day they left the factory. No joke! I checked them periodically because I knew of the failure rate on other S-10 platform SUV's.

And thats VERY expensive for ball joints. I've always replaced my own ball joints, there isnt much to it at all. You can rent the ball joint press tool from Autozone. I guess it doesnt really matter if you buy OEM or MOOG ball joints at this point- just make sure they are getting greased with a high quality grease, and OFTEN. Do NOT depend on oil change places or the dealership to grease them - 50% of the time it is not getting greased!