# Lower ball joints

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/lower-ball-joints/509>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 12, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lower-ball-joints/509 "2007-06-12T17:14:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![triz5757](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@triz5757](https://community.cartalk.com/u/triz5757)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lower-ball-joints/509/1 "2007-06-12T17:14:07Z")

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I will be changing my lower ball joints on a 1999 GMC Jimmy-4wd. How ling should they take and are there any surprises I may incounter?  
  
  
  
 I think it will take about 2-3 hours per side.  
  
  
  
 Also, any idea how much a garage may charge?  
  
  
  
 Thanks,  
  
  
  
 TRIZ

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lower-ball-joints/509/2 "2007-06-12T17:42:45Z")

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Generally, the flat rate may run about 1 and 1/2 hours per side so you have to mulitply that by the shop hourly flat rate charge. Generally of course.  
Depending on the locale and shop rate, maybe a 100 or 120 per side. Wild guessing.

You will need the ball joint press tool, which is available as a loaner tool from AutoZone, O’Reillys, etc.  
Usually they don’t take more than an hour or a bit more but you never know. I just go through doing one that took me 4 hours.  
(Long story, still ticked off.)