Put on the lift and went and Tried to get an alignment....

[03envoy]

So I got the lift on this weekend and I went to Belle Tire looking to get an alignment and I get a call saying I have a loose outer tie rod and Lower ball joint. But, Prior to this I took the envoy in and got the bilsteins put on at a different shop with no issues and alignment was perfect. I am not sure if they are busting my balls to get money or they really are bad? should I just get an alignment now and then do the tie rod and Ball joint later? Will it hurt to drive a couple thousand without getting them replaced? Thanks
Trent

I knew something was going to possibly be bad with putting the lift on, But I just wont have time in my scheadule for this for a month or two. With there quote at $471. They are dreaming.

 

[Denali n DOO]

If it were me and the outer tie rod and ball joint are no good then I would replace them, tires aren't cheap. You're going to look at them yourself so you know what condition they really are in. Nothing worse than trying to decide when the shop is on the phone and you can't see it for yourself.

 

[03envoy]

Yes, tires are not cheap. These are gettin to needin replacement with 265's lol. But I just got the parts 30min ago from advance auto. I am going to do the outer tie rod soon for sure but I am weerry about the ball joint. Is it difficult? ETA on replacement? If I was to only do the tie rod you think I could get away and do the ball joint later?Thanks
Trent

 

[Hypnotoad]

I've done plenty of ball joints in the past, and i'd say these were the hardest. I'd say they aren't difficult up until you get to the ball joint itself. They're really difficult to press out.

When I did mine, my Trailblazer was torn apart for a week and I made several attempts to find the correct tools for the job. Once I had the right ball joint service set, it wasn't too bad.

I made this how-to on replacing the lower ball joints. http://gmtnation.com/showthread.php?p=89896

But there's an even better one on here somewhere with more detail than mine.

 

[03envoy]

Got the parts and going to atempt tomorrow. I am going to rent the damn $160 kit. Hopefully I can knock it out in less then 4 hours..... Thanks for the write up! Tie rod should be nothing. Thanks again!
Trent

 

[stormsurge]

I heated mine up and they came right out. Putting them back in was easy too.

 

[03envoy]

I heated mine up and they came right out. Putting them back in was easy too.

Did you just heat up the base of it and sledge it out? lol

 

[bigytwotone]

it took me 1hr a side to do both ball joints and all i did was pound them out.

 

[03envoy]

it took me 1hr a side to do both ball joints and all i did was pound them out.

Moog ball joints are amazing quailty. I tried to take off the tie rod and heated the sheet out of it and I could not loosen it. So I said screw it taking it in tomorrow or today for a quick swap of parts at my local auto place. I gave it my all. Thats all I can do.

 

[IslandRunner]

Why didn't you go to the same shop as before. The best way to keep from getting ripped off is to find shops you trust and stick with them.

 

[03envoy]

Why didn't you go to the same shop as before. The best way to keep from getting ripped off is to find shops you trust and stick with them.

I just went to belle tire because I felt better with them giving the alignment. But, I have another shop I go to and that I know them personally that does all the things I can't or dont have access to the tools needed to do the work. Welding, engine work etc.... I would have gone to Belle but they wanted $471......

 

[v7guy]

Moog ball joints are amazing quailty. I tried to take off the tie rod and heated the sheet out of it and I could not loosen it. So I said screw it taking it in tomorrow or today for a quick swap of parts at my local auto place. I gave it my all. Thats all I can do.

MAPP torch, it's $30 or so and can heat up 1/2" and better rod cherry red. Tie rod end puller will pop it loose from the spindle. Heating up the tie rod end where it screws into the tie rod would have taken 10-15 minutes a side, but it would have spun right off.

 

[03envoy]

MAPP torch, it's $30 or so and can heat up 1/2" and better rod cherry red. Tie rod end puller will pop it loose from the spindle. Heating up the tie rod end where it screws into the tie rod would have taken 10-15 minutes a side, but it would have spun right off.

Where is the best place to get the Mapp Gas Torch?

 

[The_Roadie]

Where is the best place to get the Mapp Gas Torch?

Any local store that has it in stock.

Flammable compressed gas cylinders are not a mail order item.

 

[03envoy]

Thats what I thought I wasn't sure though........

 

[v7guy]

Where is the best place to get the Mapp Gas Torch?

Yeah, like roadie mentioned. Mom and pop hardware/plumbing stores usually have em and you're gauranteed to find em at the big box hardware stores. It's the yellow canister.