Ball Joint Trouble.......

[danielmillermark8]

Hey guys, so I really need a solid recommendation for a lower ball joint, passenger side for my 97 Mark. It sounds exactly like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGiC0DR2xWk I know I should do the whole lower arm but am broke atm and I'm just going to do the ball joint. So I need to know what piece I should buy because if I buy the wrong one, then Im paying shop labor for nothing in return. Thanks for the help in advance & I hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

 

[chris2523]

MOOG K8477 ball joint is what i used.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C544NC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

still going good more than 3 years later.
i do suggest replacing the entire arm, but gotta do what you gotta do i guess.

an alignment should be at least checked afterwards, as things tend to move about.

 

[danielmillermark8]

Got it, thanks Chris!!!!! Was going to put money in my bank to order them and forgot its sunday. I can drive like this for a week or so? I hope so cause I have to drive to work. I've heard horror storys of the wheel actually popping off?? # a little freaked out.

 

[chris2523]

i can't say driving it would be a good idea...
as few miles as possible. it gets ugly when the wheel comes loose.

 

[soduka]

You really shouldn't own a Mark VIII if $20 is a big problem in your life. (An arm can be found for ~45 online while a good balljoint is $20-25, it just makes sense to replace the whole arm).

 

[danielmillermark8]

You really shouldn't own a Mark VIII if $20 is a big problem in your life. (An arm can be found for ~45 online while a good balljoint is $20-25, it just makes sense to replace the whole arm).

Yea, I wish it was that easy to pay just $40 or so and be done but my options are #1 ball joint only, $28 for the part $87 for labor OR $380 for the arm & labor. Thats a big jump.

 

[soduka]

It is that easy when you do it yourself. I didn't know you were going to pay someone to do it. Labor is a ripoff on these cars. I'd never pay their rates. $380 to pop a lower control arm off and on is robbery, it'll take a tech longer to press in a new ball joint than it will to replace the arm. I've done both and I know this for a fact.

 

[marked8]

I was quoted $200 labor to replace the entire front suspension with me providing the parts. You need a new shop.

 

[Spree]

I also agree. Do it your self, there's plenty of people here to walk you through it. Everyone talked me through it. It's easier then you think and you'll learn a little bit more about you car to.

 

[marked8]

Hey guys, so I really need a solid recommendation for a lower ball joint, passenger side for my 97 Mark. It sounds exactly like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGiC0DR2xWk I know I should do the whole lower arm but am broke atm and I'm just going to do the ball joint. So I need to know what piece I should buy because if I buy the wrong one, then Im paying shop labor for nothing in return. Thanks for the help in advance & I hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/fo...VT-98-White-Pearlescent-Progress-Thread/page6

Great thread to read overall, but this was his suspension part of the build. There are a lot of similar threads some with more detail on the site.