Is our mechanic trying to replace what doesn't need replaced?

[Young Farmer]

The car probably needs new ball joints. Ball joints are things that do wear out. They are not hard to do, and threre are plenty of videos on youtube that show how to do it. You can even rent the tools from an auto parts store and it will still probably be cheaper then having a shop do it. As for wal mart, thay are not a mechanic shop they are a box store. I would try and find a local shop with just a few guys that you can build a relationship with and trust that they are doing what needs to be done.

 

[reveriereptile]

Just talked to the mechanic yesterday and the only thing wrong with it was the wheel bearings needed to be tighten. He wanted to know who even told us that it was the ball joints that got us thinking it was that. That saved us a lot of money.

There wasn't nothing wrong with the other stuff the other mechanic was trying to charge us for to change replace.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Just talked to the mechanic yesterday and the only thing wrong with it was the wheel bearings needed to be tighten. He wanted to know who even told us that it was the ball joints that got us thinking it was that. That saved us a lot of money.

There wasn't nothing wrong with the other stuff the other mechanic was trying to charge us for to change replace.

Loose/dry/worn wheel bearings can give the same effect. Sounds like you found a good mechanic now.

 

[GardenerGal]

I had the wheel bearings repacked on the front two wheels of my 1999 Ford Ranger, a few weeks ago, but really they needed to be replaced and in a couple of weeks one went, then the other. They were the original bearings so they owed me nothing. lol

The sound of worn bearings going, is a metalic squealing screeching noise, like metal chains getting dragged. And, you can get sudden "play" in the wheel when you're driving, which feels like something suddenly is pulling the wheel to the side. Not a great feeling and not safe for driving.