Ive seen some post about people changing rag joints, most of the things I saw involved them cutting one to fit. If you search for rag joint there should be plenty of post about them.

 

I brought it to another shop. They say it needs 4 ball joints at the tune of $1000.

I'm about ready to bail out.

Know anybody looking for anice second-hand 2dr Blazer?

 

Sweet Baby Jebus!!!

Ball joints are CHEAP, like $20 each(for the cheaper ones). You NEED to find another guy to do the job!

 

I agree - ball joints for the blazer are cheap. If you want to see if the ball joints are bad, jack the wheels up and try to rock the wheels in and out. there should be no movment at all. at this point, I would not dump any money into it until I was sure I knew what was wrong with it.

If the idler and pitman arm are new, that leaves the tie rods. I would jack the front end up, take the wheels off and have a buddy move the front end through it's slack while you look for the loose link.

I'm guessing the truck got a wheel alginment for maintenance?

Another thought: what about the wheel bearings? Those can affect handling pretty severly if they are worn, and I hear on these guys they tend to go at 30k. While driving, listen to changing noises in the drivetrain while turning.

 

i havea 95blazer that had very loose vague steering replaced the old worn out rag joint and steering column (theycan not be seperated from one another)with a steering column off a newer blazer with less miles and the problem is gone

if your 2000 has 118,00 miles on it you could try they same thing cost me $8 and one hour of my time

 

I tried 2 shops. They both want $900+ to replace the ball joints. The book lists it as a 5 hour job (or so they say) and the joints run $55 each. Are these actually riveted on?

 

factory ones are indeed riveted on.

 

My shade-tree-mechanic cousin does mine for a $13 case of Keystone Light.
Five hours? I hate "books". He does one in about 30-40 minutes!

 

My shade-tree-mechanic cousin does mine for a $13 case of Keystone Light.
Five hours? I hate "books". He does one in about 30-40 minutes!

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Does your mechanic drink after the job is done or during???

 

Before, during, and after!

I won't let him start on something though, if I can tell he's had more than a couple.

Tomorrow, we're changing the last two ball joints, even though they seem fine, just trying to get rid of the ****ing popping sound in my front end.
The price we've agreed on: We'll go bowling afterwards....I'll pay for bowling and our beer, and send him home with a 30 pack of Keystone! Grand total will be like $35.