Front end rebuild cost

[Gibson]

I'm thinking of getting a front end rebuild kit from http://www.performancesuspension.com but I really don't want to put it in myself because I've heard what a pain it is.

Anyone know what a fair price on the labor on that job might be?
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[Eyegore]

Well I had the price from my local wheel alignment shop to rebuild my 99 suburban, front end is very similiar to 73-87 trucks, their price was $1200. Yesterday my son and I tackled it with a price of $450 for parts. Took pretty much the whole day and we wished we had a press to remove bushing and lower ball joints. So if you do not have all the tools or a son who as invintive as mine it would be best to have the pros do it.

Tom

[Gibson]

Yikes $1200! I'm hoping that was with parts. The kit I was looking at was $212 for all the bushings.

I had the idler arm, pitman arm and tie rods replaced about 2 years ago when I first got the truck. Hopefully some of that won't HAVE to be redone.

[rwhit57]

When I did mine I took the control arms to a local front end shop and they took the old bushings out and installed the new ones for $20 an arm. You can rent a ball joint press for the lower ball joints. The uppers if they've never been changed you just have to grind the rivets. The tie rods, idler arm, etc aren't too bad. I put it all back together, aligned it with tape on the floor and took it to get it aligned. It's hard work but worth the savings.

[Gibson]

I'm not sure I would be able to do it myself is the problem. Just sorting out an alternator problem pretty much kicked my butt. I think I will end up having to have someone with know-how and proper tools do it I just had hoped it would be more like $500 in labor.

Maybe I'm SOL!

[Eyegore]

$1200 was parts and labor.

[beamn7]

I got my kit from them as well. When it arrived I was glad to see they were the graphite impregnated bushings so as to stop any squeeking but was disappointed that the tie rod ends, etc were all made in taiwan. Got a hold of them and asked for MOOG parts. They shipped a call tag to send back the parts and I paid the extra for made in America MOOG parts.
They were VERY good to deal with.

Planning on tackling in the next few weeks. I've done a few before and while time consuming it is not too terribly hard. I've got a ball joint press but do plan on taking the arms down to a friends shop to press the bushings out and new ones in.

I'm sure you could handle it. It's just nuts and bolts....

[Gibson]

Yeah see I've learned that "not too terribly hard" for MOST folks turns into "Good God its on FIRE" when I do it.

But maybe I'll give it a go if I can't find someone to do it for a reasonable amount.

[rayfinseats]

I had a 83 4x4 done with all moog parts for just over $600 parts and labor. It depends on your mechanics overhead and prices vary in diff parts of the country. Pickle forks and a big hammer work great for tie rod ends and ball joints.