1998 Blazer more problems need some help...

[caszkl]

Ok after looking around for the best shop and I have found one this time. I took my Blazer in again today, I was right there while they looked at it and I have to say I have problems. I need all ball joints replaced, which is a problems for as they were just replaced about 6 mos. ago in Troy,MO. To go with that I have to replace pittman arm, idler arm, tie rods, and yes those U-joints. Other problem is my Blazer also had a new trans put in down in Troy, MO and well no that is leaking, now the trans is still under warrenty but since the owner changed could I take down and have them fix it or call them and have them let a shop here fix it? Back to the ball joints, the guy I took it to sadi they should not be bad so soon after them being replaced and they have been we could see that, but he said they would only be bad if they were not greased after they were installed. Any one have any idea what I can do this? Now I really think I will stick with this shop, the guy is going to give me a pretty good price of $660.00 total to have everything but the trans leak fixed, this is better then the almost $2000.00 or more the other shop had said. So if anyone has any idea how to go about the trans and ball joints please let me know. Thanks so much for your help.

[BlazerLT]

6 month old ball joints don't need to be replaced.

Put you front end up on jackstands and grease them with 5-6 full pumps of grease and they will be fine.

Sounds like the shop is one to avoid. Anyone saying all of them need to be replaced is just trying to screw you.

Did he say anything when you told the shop they were just replaced?

[caszkl]

I know it not the norm. to have everything needing to be done at the same time. This time I went into the shop and watch while they looked at it and saw the play everything had. Now I don't know much about this part of a car at all, but should you beable to move the ball joints , or anything else they say I need done? He did say that the ball joints should still be fine unless they didn't grease them when the were replaced, like I said I don't much about it. Well thanks for your help and I find someone to look at my place for me, maybe then I can learn more about these things. Oh and I had no noise til after I left this shop could this just be cause they were moving everything around?

[Markgc]

Sometimes you need to step back. These boys will fill your head with stuff until you are spinning around.

I took my Blazer into a shop and they told me that my ball joints were so bad that they couldn't do a front end alignment and it was $1000 to fix it.

I just kept on driving and then a while later I needed to replace a front wheel bearing. While everything was down I replaced the ball joints and bearings on both sides but to be honest I couldn't detect any play with any of the joints. The moral here is that I would get a second and third opinion on those joints. How is your handling? Why do you suspect those joints?


As for the transmission are you sure that it isn't just the gasket on the pan that is leaking. They seem notorious for leaking. Mine is a pain and I talked to a guy in a shop who had a lot of trouble with one too. In the end I think a new gasket with some rtv helped fix his problem - my still dribbles a bit. What I am saying is that you may have a simple problem with the transmission and maybe nothing wrong with your balljoints at all.

You should invest in a grease gun and take care of them yourself.


Mark

[caszkl]

Yeah I think it is just the gasket on the trans. As for the ball joints the guy used a pry bar and lifted them and that is why he said they where bad, I don't know how to check them so I am not sure. But can all this just go bad at one time? That is what is really getting me I really don't know if this guy is just trying to get me or what but he did give me a good price for everything he said needs to be done. I never had any noise either til after I had him look at it now it is making all kinds of noise. But sounds like my u-joints are making the noise again.

As for how it handles it pulls to one side, has been since I got it that is why I took it in to have it looked at. I never would have thought ball joints but that is what I was told.

I have taken it to 4 diff. places now and everyone says more then the other so I don't know what to think. The first one I took it too said the ball joints were loose but it was fine, the next one said nothing about the ball joints but said the idler arm was bad, then the one after that said ball joints where loose not a prob but the pitman arm was bad, and now this one says the ball joints, idler arm, pitman arm and tie rods are bad, I know the u- joints are but the rest I jut don't know after being told so many htings I really don't know. But i don't drive now either cause that could be a prob. if all this is bad.

[BlazerLT]

All balljoint will have some play in them.

A garage suckered me into replacing mine when all they needed was some grease.

Replace the idler arm and pitman arm if you want, they are known to fail. But don't replace anything that is new.

And remember, with the crown in the road you will always have a feeling that the truck is pulling slightly to the right.

[caszkl]

Yeah I didn't think the ball joints needed to replaced after all I have gone back and forth to MO, since I have been told that they were bad again. But thanks maybe I will just go ahead and do the other stuff though.

[BlazerLT]

Yea, I would, and an easy way to check your tie rod ends is to lift one front tire up and see if you can get any play in the tie rods joints by wiggling the tire with your hands on the 9 and 3 o'clock positions.

Have a friend do it while you check your the inner and outer tie rod ends.

You will see the ends bend a bit if they are worn.

Grease your front end, there are 11 grease fitting to hit with 3-4 pumps of grease every 4 or so months.

[caszkl]

Ok so I have two friends of mine look at my blazer, should have done it to start with. Anyhow everything is good, but for the tie rods. I can handle that, but thank you all so much for your help.

[Markgc]

It's scary what a bunch of thieves that are out there isn't it.

The other day I was talking to a lady who had a Z24 just like my 86 Cavalier. She showed me the receipt for a new water pump that she had just had fitted but when I looked at the car and the pump was an old untouched original pump. She only earned about $6 an hour and had been taken for $120. Those people are the lowest of the low. She took her car in with a water leak that was probably a loose hose clamp and had been taken for $120 for 3 minutes work


I am glad that they didn't get you this time. I always do my own work whenever it is at all possible and I know enough to avoid the scams of these people. When they try it on I normally end up laughing in their face and walking right out.

Mark

[muddog321]

Maybe I missed something but only 2wd have a pitman arm with a zerk (one off steering box) so if 4wd do not waste your money. As stated all Blazers have some play in the linkage but if a 98 that pitman arm is most probably worn. As for the pulling check the brake slides and look at the rotors for uneven wear on one side (back of rotor too). Many areas to look at for the pulling problem and most are posted already.

[caszkl]

Well thanks for saying a 4wd does not have a pitman arm, I would have been taken with that for sure. But thanks to all you and a few friends of mine I now know it is tie rods. I will be taking it to a shop but one I can trust, I called around for prices and was getting some ones, I was given prices from 300-600 and I would still have to go to another shop, I found one that is owend by a good friend of mines uncle and he will do it for $75.00, that could just be cause his nephew is my friend but hey I will go there. Now the problem is solved and I am glad I came back here to ask for some help otherwise I would have ended up getting all that work done. So again thanks

[Markgc]

Is that how much it costs now? Wowee. I would have thought that the whole job could be done in an hour plus a wheel alighnment. Parts should be less than $100.

Anyone else got any opinions?


Mark

[Markgc]

Sorry I missed the bit where you can have it done for $75. That is a good very good deal



Mark

[caszkl]

Yeah the shop I am going to, I told him one of the shops price and he wow they are not ever that high, he said the tie rods are about $40 for both and then the labor he said was like a hour maybe more so no reason to be so high. Now the shop I am going to does not do the alighnment, but thats cool they are the cheapest in town and i need this done now, i can always go to another shop for it. ANy how thanks again.