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'06 Front end rebuild

btfarm

btfarm

America First!
Messages
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Location
Sandwich, Illinois
I'm just about to 220k and it's time to tighten up the front end and put new BFG ATs on. I had my tire and align guys give me a quote for new UCAs, lower balljoints, inner and outer tierods and, if needed, a new idler arm. I specified all MOOG or better. I then compared the quote with Rockauto's prices and he's way high.
He's at about 2x on the price for all the parts and has 5 hrs labor at $75 per (which I think is fair in my area).
The idler arm was replaced 76k ago when I bought the last set of tires (and why the 4th set of them is going on this truck) so I doubt that needs a replace. Am I going with the right parts specifying all MOOG? Am I missing something on why his part markup is so high? I thought it would be about 25% higher... Not 100+%.
I'm considering doing all of it except the lower ball joints myself and letting him do that, tires and align or provide him with the parts. What am I missing? I've not done one of these before. Only 2 wheel drive stuff and not torsion bar suspension.
 
Mike all you need is a ball joint press (rent or borrow) and you can do it all.

Just did an 06 Dakota wanna be a truck with only 97k and the front end was basically worn the hell out.
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The lower balljoints are a PITA on these trucks. They're riveted in, not pressed in, and sandwiched by the LCA. You basically have to torch the originals out.

Mike, now would be a great time to throw on some sleeves or upgraded tie-rod ends, if you haven't already...
 
Moogs are better than OEM and yeah, I thought about sleeves but I am virtually never off road any more since I'm out of active farming.
 
I wonder if the lower ball joints can be done in the truck. NAPA sells complete lower control arms but you will still have to deal with the torsion bars.
 
Their plan was to do the lowers in place. I'm going to contact the owner in the next few days and see if I can bring my own parts.
 
The lowers on our 01 dually were pressed in... Just took about a day and ball joint press. I have provided the parts for a repair before and it only cost me ~200 to the shop or it could have been over 2K with their parts.
 
Mike, a big pothole with your bigger tires could crank your tie-rod right into a pretzel. Next project on our 05 is Bilstein's and tie-rod sleeves, or the "Rare Parts" tie-rods...
 
Dad's 05 LLY said:
Mike, a big pothole with your bigger tires could crank your tie-rod right into a pretzel. Next project on our 05 is Bilstein's and tie-rod sleeves, or the "Rare Parts" tie-rods...
Click to expand...

Do the sleeves, I've read of to many people having the rare parts ones wear out after only 30K miles or so here lately.
 
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