Ball joints!

[airmanslacker]

Ok, this may be a stupid question, but I'm still learning about my Taurus and cars in general, but how many ball joints does a 2002 Taurus have? Midas is trying to get me to pay $500 to change them and I'm am giving a big HELL NO! Can anyone give me this simple answer?

[hueroloco]

there are 2 ... on the front, 2 on the back.

hard to believe ball joints on a 2002 are bad already .... but it IS a FORD!j/k

[fubard]

A 2002 with bad balljoints? Unless it's been abused and with hi miles I doubt the balljoints are worn out.I'd get a 2nd opinion from another shop and if they say the same thing I'd look into a possible Ford secret warranty.I beleive the same vintage Escapes had bad balljoints.Ford may have used the same parts in both models.If that's the case it could end up being covered.I'd try googling it.

[lee308]

I must agree, I have a 2002 w/120k miles and no problems, knock on wood.

Originally Posted by fubard

A 2002 with bad balljoints? Unless it's been abused and with hi miles I doubt the balljoints are worn out.I'd get a 2nd opinion from another shop and if they say the same thing I'd look into a possible Ford secret warranty.I beleive the same vintage Escapes had bad balljoints.Ford may have used the same parts in both models.If that's the case it could end up being covered.I'd try googling it.

[airmanslacker]

It has 82K on it. I think it was a rental before I got it. They are telling me the two foward lower ball joints are giving a lot of slack. I'm not giving them business anyways. RIP OFF!

[lee308]

I think you are being told a line of crap. Even if it was a rental, I doubt the ball joints would be worn that quick. Besides, you should show some strange tire wear.

Of note, be advised that a front end alignment requires movment of the struct tower! Which is spot welded in place. Spot welds must be drilled.
How do I know? Saw mine done.

Originally Posted by lee308

I must agree, I have a 2002 w/120k miles and no problems, knock on wood.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by lee308

I think you are being told a line of crap. Even if it was a rental, I doubt the ball joints would be worn that quick. Besides, you should show some strange tire wear.

Of note, be advised that a front end alignment requires movment of the struct tower! Which is spot welded in place. Spot welds must be drilled.
How do I know? Saw mine done.

The spot welds will only need to be drilled if the camber and/or caster is out of spec. Since the car used to be a rental, then it is quite possible that the caster and/or camber may be off due to hitting curbs, potholes at high speed, etc. However, if only the toe is off, then the spot welds can stay.

-Rod

[mwt]

They may or may not be trying to scam you

A better answer could be had if you stated the mileage.

(edit) Sorry didn't see you posted it.
Yes you could have wear but it probably isn't dangerou yet.

I have a 99 and a 2000 Taurus. The suspension is the same on both of them. It is just like your 2002



The ball joints are a wear item on these cars. They do get loose very quickly compared to other cars.

$500.00 dollars is way too much to fix them

$150 for both sides would be an average number depending on where you live. It is about an hour worth of labor and there are several different prices for different mfg of the ball joints.

You will have to have the car aligned after so that will add between $40 and $60 dollars.

Unless you have banged the suspension around or hit a curb you shouldn't have to have the spot welds ground to reposition the strut.

Some cars are barely within tolerances when new and the strut weld does have to be done on those to properly alighn it.

Outer tie rods are another high wear item for the Taurus.

I could tell there was wear on my 2000 at about 70K and I didn't change it until about a 100K

I hope that helps

Mike

[shorod]

Originally Posted by mwt

They may or may not be trying to scam you

[snip]

The ball joints are a wear item on these cars. They do get loose very quickly compared to other cars.

$500.00 dollars is way too much to fix them

$150 for both sides would be an average number depending on where you live. It is about an hour worth of labor and there are several different prices for different mfg of the ball joints.

[snip]
I hope that helps

Mike

If the 2002 is similar to the previous generation Taurus, then $500 for two ball joints is not that high (assuming they really are bad). On the 1998 the steering knuckle, hub, bearings, and ball joint are all one piece. From the dealer, they go anywhere from $175-$250 each. You can pick new OEM ones up on eBay for around $120 for a pair, but I doubt many Midas shops shop on eBay for their parts. Replacing them is not too bad of a task with some fairly common tools (plus a large socket for the axle nut). You will need to transfer over the rotor heat shield (riveted in place with huge rivets) and the ABS sensor.

[edit] Just remembered that I have the service manual for 2002 Fords. The knuckle assembly appears to be identical to my 1998 with the integral ball joint.

-Rod

[mwt]

Originally Posted by shorod

If the 2002 is similar to the previous generation Taurus, then $500 for two ball joints is not that high (assuming they really are bad). On the 1998 the steering knuckle, hub, bearings, and ball joint are all one piece. From the dealer, they go anywhere from $175-$250 each. You can pick new OEM ones up on eBay for around $120 for a pair, but I doubt many Midas shops shop on eBay for their parts. Replacing them is not too bad of a task with some fairly common tools (plus a large socket for the axle nut). You will need to transfer over the rotor heat shield (riveted in place with huge rivets) and the ABS sensor.

[edit] Just remembered that I have the service manual for 2002 Fords. The knuckle assembly appears to be identical to my 1998 with the integral ball joint.

-Rod

Having to Replacing the whole knuckle assy is a myth. The ball joints can be replaced as individual items they do not have to be replaced as assembly's.

I have done this procedure personally.
Here is a link to the ball joints on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

Mike

[airmanslacker]

Midas was telling me it would be about either $100 or $199 for each ball joint, and told them that I'll go somewhere else. I looked up a price online for them and I found them for $40. I also got an estimate from a place in upstate NY (because I just drove here from Louisiana w/ my Taurus the last two days) and they were telling me it would be $20 for cheaper ball joints and $50 for the good ones.

I also just remembered that this car came with a 3 year/ 36,000 mile warranty on it approx. 52K on it. So it may not be as bad as I thought.

[airmanslacker]

Got a 2nd opinion. Turns out they were just trying to make a quick fortune out of me. Ball joints are fine. AND, we also found that Midas F*#^ed up while putting my right wheels back on. The front was missing a lugnut, and the back lugnuts would not torque up because they put the lugnuts on wrong and ended up cracking and warping the threads on the studs. I...am....lividly....beyond all means....pissed. My family could have died on the way to NY because they don't know what they are doing. DO NOT GO TO MIDAS!!!!

[mjohn11b]

Originally Posted by lee308

I think you are being told a line of crap. Even if it was a rental, I doubt the ball joints would be worn that quick. Besides, you should show some strange tire wear.

Of note, be advised that a front end alignment requires movment of the struct tower! Which is spot welded in place. Spot welds must be drilled.
How do I know? Saw mine done.

I am having strange tire wear on the front 2...inners worn
Does this mean, what?
It is a 1991 with new front wheel bearings, and front axels.
When I hit a bump the front tires seem to wabble. ?
Thanks. MJohn

[shorod]

Could be bad inner or outer tie rod ends, bad ball joints, or a combination of any of them. You should probably take it to a trustworthy shop that does a fair amount of suspension work and have them check it out for you.

-Rod

[mjohn11b]

Originally Posted by shorod

Could be bad inner or outer tie rod ends, bad ball joints, or a combination of any of them. You should probably take it to a trustworthy shop that does a fair amount of suspension work and have them check it out for you.

-Rod

Rod
Seems the place I took the car for repair
replaced both front wheel bearings and one drive axel.
Now, when I hit a bump the wheel seems to shake/wobble?
Did I say that this car is actually a 1991 Mercury Tracer
If that matters... ?
Thanks for the info... :o)
MJohn