Does this sound right?

So my truck is in the shop for brakes at all four corners. Its a 2011 trd sport with about 80k on it. The shop called me and told me that the front wheel bearings were annihilated, tie rods were destroyed, one of the CV's was destroyed, U joints, and UCA bushings were done. All of that on top of the brakes. They quoted $2,600 to fix everything. They also told me it rode like ass! Any ideas on what i should do? How hard would the work be to do myself? I am mechanically inclined. Installed lifts, opened up motors...

 

All of those things are possible, but not likely. The bearings are notorious for going bad and can be tested by lifting the front and shaking the wheels. If they're gone, get in touch with @BamaToy1997. He'll walk you through putting your new ones in - He sells quality bearings.

I think they're trying to rip you off, but if shit is going bad I'd do most of it myself (sounds like you can) with upgraded parts from the money you save by not having those con men do the work.

Bama and @gearcruncher are excellent resources for your questions.

 

I understand about the wheel bearings going but the rest seems unnecessary. Like tie rods?? they said the CV boot has a rip...

 

Possible but my BS alarm is going off.
Any symptoms to make you think some of those might actually be needed?

 

Sounds a bit fishy. Unless you trust this shop, I would get a second opinion or at least inspect the parts yourself. For that price, I expect you could get some very nice aftermarket parts and install them yourself. I did UCA's and shocks and springs all around. It was a bit of work, but pretty easy once I got some of the bolts broken loose. If you have tools and time, it is totally doable. I haven't done CVs or wheel bearings, but I don't expect those are too hard either.

 

You can also check the CV boot yourself, you'll be able to see a rip in the rubber boot and a greasy mess spilling out of it. Personally I've went through a couple sets of CVs. Its not too uncommon for our trucks when they are lifted, especially if you add off roading into the mix

 

How much of a pain is it to replace a CV axle?

 

Cv axles are not that bad but I've been told I had a torn boot and could never find the tear and changed the axles 200,000 km later. You can apply the "as long as I'm in there" theory as your shop has obviously done already and do all of the work yourself at one time. Best to do your due diligence though and make sure these parts really are worn. My truck has eaten front wheel bearings a couple times but not tie rods.

 

just got off the phone with the shop, Im having them do brakes all the way around, and from right wheel bearing for $1200. Once i get the truck back I'm going to check the rest of the parts they said were worn. Might do the CV's myself just to prevent any breaks that could be impending.

 

What is the breakdown on charges? $1200 seems insane for just brakes and a wheel bearing. You can get a new hub with the bearings already pressed in from @BamaToy1997 for $175 and have it swapped in an hour with some basic tools.

 

I think that's a good plan. In the end you will become more knowledgeable and save more money on future repairs.

 

they said the wheel bearing is about half of the $1200. They say they have to do a lot of pressing and stuff. If they can't "save" the hub it will be an additional $200...

 

Honestly, if you're going to do the CV yourself, and it is on the same side, you might as well buy a hub from TW and do that as well. You have to remove the caliper, and the axle nut which you will have to do anyways to pull the CV, and then it is 4 bolts and it is off. There are step by step instructions on here for how to do it also.

 

Also upper control arm ball joints? I just bought and installed light racing UCA's 4 months ago.... If they are destroyed this fast light racing should be responsible? Obviously a terrible design. Shop says they are pretty essential to have fixed.

 

If you can do cv joints yourself you must be a decent mechanic.
That 2600 bill is outrageous do it your self. Save that cash and buy some goodies. Good luck you can do it. Too many guys are intimidated by ding their own work.

 

Is this a dealer or just a mom and pop shop? It really sounds like they are trying to pull one over. If you think they gave you a fair price on brakes and you know you need them, I would have them do that and tell them you will do the rest. If you don't want to actually do it, at least take it and get a second opinion from another shop or take some pics and put them up here of your front end.

 

Its a local off road shop. I know the owner very well and I'm friends with the family. Usually they are not like this...

 

told em not to do ball joints. Im probably going to call light racing and see what they say. Who knows, maybe they aren't even worn yet. Its been 4 months. that seems crazy to have them worn after 4 months and at MOST 3k miles on them.

 

Yep, if you know them, it's a tough call. Alot of the work can be done yourself, especially if you installed your lift yourself. I swapped a CV and hub in a night by myself with a fisher price tool set. Not ideal, but it wasn't too bad considering.

 

yup, CV's and ball joints ill figure out. I don't like to mess with brakes. and don't really know about pressing bearings and stuff.