# 1996 chevy s-10 idler arm, ball joints, and shocks cost **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 14, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355 "2013-02-14T20:43:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lilredpickup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b3f665/32.png) [@lilredpickup](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lilredpickup)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355/1 "2013-02-14T20:43:33Z")
1996 lil red pickup has 150k miles. it has been a bit bumpy for years, and was told to change shocks a few years back but just put it off. now it is squeaking like crazy. moved from CA to New Orleans and the potholes are bad, so first squeaking was over potholes. now it’s all the time and pretty loud, so this is not fun. control arm, ball joints and shocks are all original and shot so new ones are in order so says the mechanic (alignment, oil change, rotation, thrown in). cost is $1,600. I love this little truck. it still is pretty and shiny and runs well, so I don’t mind the money, but does it sound right? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355/2 "2013-02-14T21:01:53Z")
**_To Answer Generally, . . . Probably. To Answer Specifically, More Information Is Needed. Can You Post A Detailed List Of Parts And Labor Operations That Are Estimated ?_** Oh, and a second opinion by a second mechanic wouldn’t hurt. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![lilredpickup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b3f665/32.png) [@lilredpickup](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lilredpickup)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355/3 "2013-02-14T22:08:11Z")
Total for arm, joints, and shocks - $1,438 idler arm $90 drag link $132 lower ball joints $150 upper ball joints $106 labor $160 labor $160 labor $110 labor $90 shocks $320 shocks labor $120 changed out serpentine belt for $64 less a discount, add taxes - total $1,610. Local Tire Kingdom (I have Big O tires). Most family and friends use them. My brother has a loyal '96 Silverado and said it’s about time and sounded right, so do it. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355/4 "2013-02-14T22:56:26Z")
The total sounds okay to me considering all the work that’s being done. You could save a lot of money by doing it yourself but if you are not mechanically inclined then having someone else do the job is your only option. I would get a second opinion from a good. independent mechanic first however. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-chevy-s-10-idler-arm-ball-joints-and-shocks-cost/77355/5 "2013-02-15T07:51:47Z")
@lilredpickup I can’t argue with your shop’s diagnosis. However, based on your symptoms, here’s what I’d recommend. As a starting point. Front and rear shocks Front and rear sway bar bushings and links. You might be pleasantly surprised. And it shouldn’t cost a lot of labor. By the way . . . why are you sure the ball joints are bad? Many people wrongly make this assumption, when the source of noise is elsewhere.