Hi,

With the help of some kind members on this forum I have determined that the popping noise when I turn my steering maybe the ball joints. My question is how much should an indy charge for this job. I plan on buying the ball joints so labor would be the question. I am located in Southern California. Thanks.

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1987 300E

Problem is it probably won't be just the ball joints once they start work. Figure at least the tie rod ends too. I would budget between $500 and $1000 including the alignment that you will want to have done upon completion of the work.

Keep in mind that this type work only comes around every 200k miles or so so don't try to nickle and dime it to death.

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Jim

Ball joints are about $25.00ea, you need 2,
A competent mechanic will take about 1.5 hour to do the job.
Add a wheel alignment and you're done for around $200.

Good luck getting this done for that amount in So Cal.

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Jim

A word of warning. Don't buy the balljoints before you find a mechanic to do the job.

You see, the mechanic has a business. He expects to make a profit over and above the cost of the parts and over and above the cost of his labor and overhead. Most of them will tell you to forget about bringing your own parts. There is also the matter of liability if you crash due to a defective part. If I were the mechanic, I would not want to risk it putting in your potentially sub-standard parts.

Why not just get a couple of quotes and then choose. Balljoints are not an expensive job, but as the other poster noted there may be other problems. I would, for sure, replace the idler arm bushing and the steering damper.

At the end of the job you will need an alignment. Dealer alignment is the way to go.

Steve

I recently did upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends and sway bar bushings for a 99 Dodge Durango. Parts were ~$500 [Moog] . The local Firestone shop wanted ~$900 labor.

I ahve not examined how to do Benz ball joints > but I would suspect it's not as difficult as a 4x4. You will have to purchase some special tools .. but doable by a decent DIY guy. You will have to spring for a good front end alighment after the change though

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Kim Langley
97 C-230
80 911 SC
73 2002Tii

Thanks for the replies. I am going in for a quote this weekend most likely. By the way is it a safety hazzard and can I create more damage to drive like this for a couple of weeks if I cant make it this weekend?

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1987 300E

It probably is a safety hazard. Having said that I unknowingly drove a lot of miles on my '92 300E with a bad ball joint. The issue is whether the boot has cracked and the grease has leaked out. They say you can use a needle to inject some grease back into the joint for a temporary fix.

Steve

If your ball joints are REALLY shot.. then it is a safety issue >> as if you examine what a "ball joint" does >> it is the attachment point for the wheel assembly > steering knuckle.. so if it was to suffer a catastrauphic failure > then you loose control of steering.

Raise the car off the ground. Grab the wheel by the 12 and 6 oclock position . Push in/out >> if you have slop > then ball joints are bad ... if you have massive slop > then they are really bad

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Kim Langley
97 C-230
80 911 SC
73 2002Tii

book time for ball joints is 2 hours per side. if this were my car, i'd probably opt to replace the entire control arm complete with ball joint and new bushings already installed, like this:

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=22C1BF6O622C1BFD4S&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-E-002&category=L&part=Control+Arm

this way you're sort of killing two birds with one stone for unless you've had the control arm bushings replaced, it might be best to replace the entire arm and be done with it. book time to R & R lower control arm is about 1.5 hours per side.

a ball joint that makes noise is a dangerous ball joint...i wouldn't drive the car until you get this remedied. i've seen first hand what happens when a lower ball joint lets loose...not a pretty sight.

I agree - with ozawa - when I need a ball joint, I just replace the entire control arm. That way I get new bushings as well, and I don't have to wrestle with pressing the ball joint in and out. I just did this on my W124 and the cost of the driver's side LCA was $90 on fleabay. Try FastLane too.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280