Front End Help

Morning gents, tried to get my truck aligned and I'm being told that my ball joints are going out, that I need new lower control arms along with some work on the sway bar and possibly replace my coilovers.
First thought was to upgrade to uniballs and heim joints, but I was told to stick to ball joints. If I have to replace parts I would like to upgrade, but without breaking the bank, just need something tough and will last through my daily route of fast sharp turns and bumps

 

I see from your avatar, that you have a 2007 Tacoma.

Granted the suspension items may be worn to a point of replacement; but how long before do you want to replace the 2007?

If you are going to "run it until the wheels fall off" and never really replace the truck; then a serious upgrade of suspensions parts may be warranted.

If you may think about getting a newer in a year or so; why put the super, very best, items on it. In then if you may think about the traded up; go to the local auto parts store and put standard items on; which will be fine for another 7-9 years. Your standard parts have lasted this long. Sure they need replacement now.

I see thousands of $$$$$ spent on trucks and then traded in after a year. Don't think for a minuet a dealer is going to give you extra for any upgrades or something you have added. Just go to NADA or Kelley Blue Book and see if there is a category for such parts. I was a dealer and still am a semi-retired dealer; the dealer doesn't care if you have spent thousands. They do care if the parts perform to that vehicle specifications.

If you are building a stronger truck than original or going to keep it forever; then go ahead.

Just my thoughts on this, coming from the industry.

 

I agree with you, and I plan on keeping this truck for a while I just bought it. yeah I'm planning on wheeling it for years to come I have bought upgraded and sold plenty of trucks and understand that KBB doesn't care about aftermarket, I just want to offroad confidently, maybe bump up to 32s from my current 31s, after fixing the weak points I'm planning on installing a snorkel and some skid plates so I don't mind investing a little

 

where did you go to get your truck worked on? I had Les Schwab tell me i needed $1400.00 worth of front end work done to my Dodge Dakota, when in reality it only took $500.00 to fix it.

 

Local shop my clients and coworkers have been using for a long time, I posted trying to find a reliable shop in LA but didn't get any responses, I no longer have a warehouse and I've been working 72hr weeks so I realistically don't have the time or space to do things myself for now

 

Who fixed it for $900 less ??

 

A small mechanic shop ended up doing the work. Les Schwab tried to tell me all kinds of things were broken that weren't.