My new '72 Country Squire wagon currently handles like a buffalo on ice skates. I brought it into a local shop that I trust to get an alignment and have the front wheel bearnings packed and they indicated that it needs the lower ball joints replaced. They quoted me a price of $350 to do the job. I'm not a mechanic by any means, so is there anything else I need to think about here? Does the price seem reasonable and should anything else be dealt with at the same time? Thanks in advance.
Sounds competitive. TBird posted that they wanted $600 plus, to do his 1992 Tbird super coupe, with parts included. There's some heavy work and special tools to buy, if you can replace the ball joints. I did my own on mine twice but its simpler than yours.
Actually Norm the price was $600 for parts and another $678 for labor. But that's the whole thing, everything including uppers, lowers, sway bar links, struts etc, etc, etc. $350 seems reasonable for just the lower ball joints if new bushings are included and the alignment.
Didn't they switch from riveted in to press in some time in 72? Both straightforward replacements but getting other bushings such as control arm and strut rod may cost more on the press in kind as the ball joint can be easily knocked out and pressed in with the control arm in the car. Where with the rivets I find it easier to go ahead and compress the spring and remove the arm and work on the rivets on a bench. That said the price seems fair but watch for additional labor on the other bushings. Cool car BTW.
