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Lower Ball Joints On 1999 K2500 Suburban

hawk1061

By hawk1061
in Ask A GM Technician

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hawk1061 Enthusiast

hawk1061

Posted
Posted

How do I know if the lower ball joints on my 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 need to be replaced?

 

Last week I went to B***e Tire and got 4 new tires. Since they are new, I wanted an alignment. They installed the tires, then told me that they could not align the truck cause the lower ball joints were bad. I supected they were trying to pad the bill and decided to take it elsewhere to get another opinion.

 

Took it to another place, they told me the front suspension was solid and tight, no need for any work to be done.

 

Went back to B***e Tire this morn for the alignment on the new tires. Again, they tell me it needs lower ball joints. Guy takes me out to the shop where the truck is over the pit. He has the front end supported by the lower control arm with front tires about 2" off the ground. He takes a crowbar, puts it between the bottom of the tire and the ground and lifts up and down a couple times (passenger side) and points to the lower ball joint. I see it move up and down maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch (there was no way I could measure it and he didn't have anything there to measure). He did the same on the driver side and I could see less vertical movement at the joint but it did move a bit (again I can't say how far cause he had nothing to measure it with).

 

So, was that the right way for him to test it? I thought you had to move the top and bottom of the tire 'in and out' to see if there was play, not up and down.

 

Anyway, they quoted $169.74 for two Moog Ball Joints, $300.00 to remove and replace both sides, then $47.90 for a Thrust Angle Alignment.

 

What is a Thrust Angle Alignment and do I need it?

 

Also, assuming that the ball joints are really bad, is that a good price?

 

Thanks

Draenor Senior Enthusiast

Draenor

Posted
Posted
He takes a crowbar, puts it between the bottom of the tire and the ground and lifts up and down a couple times (passenger side) and points to the lower ball joint. I see it move up and down maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch (there was no way I could measure it and he didn't have anything there to measure). He did the same on the driver side and I could see less vertical movement at the joint but it did move a bit (again I can't say how far cause he had nothing to measure it with).

Thats how I test them.

VR021302 Senior Enthusiast

VR021302

Posted
Posted
How do I know if the lower ball joints on my 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 need to be replaced?

 

Last week I went to B***e Tire and got 4 new tires. Since they are new, I wanted an alignment. They installed the tires, then told me that they could not align the truck cause the lower ball joints were bad. I supected they were trying to pad the bill and decided to take it elsewhere to get another opinion.

 

Took it to another place, they told me the front suspension was solid and tight, no need for any work to be done.

 

Went back to B***e Tire this morn for the alignment on the new tires. Again, they tell me it needs lower ball joints. Guy takes me out to the shop where the truck is over the pit. He has the front end supported by the lower control arm with front tires about 2" off the ground. He takes a crowbar, puts it between the bottom of the tire and the ground and lifts up and down a couple times (passenger side) and points to the lower ball joint. I see it move up and down maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch (there was no way I could measure it and he didn't have anything there to measure). He did the same on the driver side and I could see less vertical movement at the joint but it did move a bit (again I can't say how far cause he had nothing to measure it with).

 

So, was that the right way for him to test it? I thought you had to move the top and bottom of the tire 'in and out' to see if there was play, not up and down.

 

Anyway, they quoted $169.74 for two Moog Ball Joints, $300.00 to remove and replace both sides, then $47.90 for a Thrust Angle Alignment.

 

What is a Thrust Angle Alignment and do I need it?

Also, assuming that the ball joints are really bad, is that a good price?

 

Thanks

 

That is just what some places call a 2-wheel alignment.

Draenor Senior Enthusiast

Draenor

Posted
Posted
What is a Thrust Angle Alignment and do I need it?

 

 

That is just what some places call a 2-wheel alignment.

Thrust angle is the direction that the rear wheels are pointing in relation to the center line of the vehicle. This is used primarily in vehicle with rear independant suspension. The truck has no way to adjust the rear axle to compensate for this, the toe must be adjusted to compensated. If the thrust angle is out of spec(not zero'd), the vehicle may 'dog leg' (Kind of drive sideways) or the steering wheel may not be centered.

 

 

A good alignment shop should be able to get you a printout with the before and after readings. It should also have with the factory specs and how far out you were out from them.

hawk1061 Enthusiast

hawk1061

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So, how much vertical movement should there be if the ball joint is good? Should I notice any movement? Or is the tolerance so small that it should not be 'seeable' by the eye?

 

Basically I guess I'm asking is if it sounds like they are bad (maybe was 1/8 to 1/4 inch movement on passenger side and 'less' on the driver side) or was he just trying to pad his bill with an unnecessary repair?

 

Thanks again.

 

PS: If bad, does anyone know of a reputable place to take it too in the southeastern Michigan area? I'm over in Canton if anyone is familiar with the area and can recommend a good place to go.

Draenor Senior Enthusiast

Draenor

Posted
Posted

You should see no movement.

The cost for the ball joints seems high. I would see if you could order your own and get them to replace it, or see if they can come down $60. The labor seems about right, depending on what they charge. As for the thrust angle, that should be included in an alignment.

 

IMO, id get another (3rd)opinion for another shop.

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