Cost to replace upper control arms

BenjaminJ · Apr 5, 2023

I need upper ball joints and got a quote for doing that.

When I tried to order them, I found out that these were no longer available from THIS local seller, so I ordered upper control arms because they would have new bushings as well!

When I got as new quote for replacing the upper control arms, it was HIGHER, despite 4 less operations being needed (pressing the ball joint out and pressing the new ball joints IN times 2.

Does anyone have a labor manual to give me the number of hours needed for replacing both upper control arms?

If do can, will you check the lower ball joint hours needed as well, please?

I KNOW that an alignment is needed.

I have a 2005 4 door Ram 1500 4WD with the 4.7 L engine, with A/C.

THANKS IN Advance!

Ben

TotallyHucked · Apr 5, 2023

Are you saying the new quote is overall higher cost or there's more labor hours? It is going to be higher cost overall because whole control arms cost more than just balljoints. As far as operations, you still have to jack up the truck and take the knuckle loose from the UCA. The 4 less operations you're claiming just get moved from pressing the ball joints out/in to unbolting any lines/wires/etc and then the two bolts/cams that hold the control arms in. How significantly higher are we talking here?

BenjaminJ · Apr 5, 2023

I am only talking about the labor cost and hours needed. NOT the parts.
Both jobs require removing the control arms, right?
So why is just replacing the control arms more money for labor?

chopperman1 · Apr 5, 2023

No, you do not remove control arms to replace ball joints. The mechanic is also most likely charging you more since you are bringing your own parts. You should let them supply the parts, it's good business plus you get their warranty. Online parts should be for DIY only.

jws123 · Apr 5, 2023

Replacing the upper control arms is easy on these trucks are you mechanically inclined at all? plenty of vids online if you wanna save some money.. also as mentioned above mechanics dont like when customers buy their own parts.

06 Dodge · Apr 5, 2023

chopperman1 said:
No, you do not remove control arms to replace ball joints. The mechanic is also most likely charging you more since you are bringing your own parts. You should let them supply the parts, it's good business plus you get their warranty. Online parts should be for DIY only.

If shops didn't feel the need to jack up the price of part 30% more people might be willing to let them buy the parts to install, also if a shop tells me the price of labor is higher because they are installing my parts does not get my business...

chopperman1 · Apr 5, 2023

06 Dodge said:
If shops didn't feel the need to jack up the price of part 30% more people might be willing to let them buy the parts to install, also if a shop tells me the price of labor is higher because they are installing my parts does not get my business...

Do you bring your own steaks to a restaraunt and have them cook it too? Think they sell them for what they pay? How about a grocery store, they don't mark up their stuff either? How do you think businesses pay for their leases, insurance, heating/cooling, electric, maintenance etc? It's certainly not from the 30% or so they clear on labor.

06 Dodge · Apr 5, 2023

When they charge $180. hour for labor I sure as heck am not willing to pay anyone an a huge markup on parts ( if you like paying $250 for a part you can buy your self for $168 go right ahead) I have learned their are honest shops that will install my parts for the same labor price and they are happy to do so being they still make good profit at shop rates and they don't have to warranty my parts, they just have to be sure they are properly installed...

ThunderMug95 · Apr 5, 2023

Changing a UCA is pretty simple for an amateur mechanic with a floor jack. A Pro with a lift can do it 30min for each side.

Bigskyroadglide · Apr 6, 2023

It takes longer to take out the plastic inner fender than to change out the upper control arm.

The lowers are a different story.

TotallyHucked · Apr 6, 2023

BenjaminJ said:
I am only talking about the labor cost and hours needed. NOT the parts.
Both jobs require removing the control arms, right?
So why is just replacing the control arms more money for labor?

No, you don't have to remove the control arms to replace ball joints.

indept · Apr 6, 2023

ThunderMug95 said:
Changing a UCA is pretty simple for an amateur mechanic with a floor jack. A Pro with a lift can do it 30min for each side.

True but if the labor book says 1.5 hours and the mechanic does it in 1/2 hour he puts the extra hour labor charge in his pocket, that's just the way it is. Mechanics tool boxes full of tools can be worth $100k and those tools enable him to do the job faster so his doing it faster than time allotted so you still get charged 1.5 hrs even though he did it faster.

ThunderMug95 · Apr 6, 2023

indept said:
True but if the labor book says 1.5 hours and the mechanic does it in 1/2 hour he puts the extra hour labor charge in his pocket, that's just the way it is. Mechanics tool boxes full of tools can be worth $100k and those tools enable him to do the job faster so his doing it faster than time allotted so you still get charged 1.5 hrs even though he did it faster.

Oh I get it. My point was more on how it seems daunting, but its not hard.

indept · Apr 6, 2023

chopperman1 said:
Do you bring your own steaks to a restaraunt and have them cook it too? Think they sell them for what they pay?

Do you mean BYOB doesn't mean bring your own Beef, oh crap.

indept · Apr 6, 2023

ThunderMug95 said:
Oh I get it. My point was more on how it seems daunting, but its not hard.

Hopefully if OP decides to do it he has good jackstands.
I've seen guys doing work like that on a scissor jack nothing else. Sort of like this:

indept · Apr 6, 2023

Or this

ThunderMug95 · Apr 6, 2023

indept said:
Or this

View attachment 518178

If only I had pics of me under the truck when I did the trans pan/fluid swap.
Dump the oem UCA!

Marshall · Apr 10, 2023

A young fellow that went to school with my son did not come home for supper.
His mother found him under a car that he was working on that he had lifted with a jackall.
He was 18yrs old.
you farmers will know what a jack all is .
they are great, as long as you don't use them as jack stands.

I would never buy parts and expect a licenced journeyman to install them

clhudnall · Apr 11, 2023

BenjaminJ said:
I need upper ball joints and got a quote for doing that.

When I tried to order them, I found out that these were no longer available from THIS local seller, so I ordered upper control arms because they would have new bushings as well!

When I got as new quote for replacing the upper control arms, it was HIGHER, despite 4 less operations being needed (pressing the ball joint out and pressing the new ball joints IN times 2.

Does anyone have a labor manual to give me the number of hours needed for replacing both upper control arms?

If do can, will you check the lower ball joint hours needed as well, please?

I KNOW that an alignment is needed.

I have a 2005 4 door Ram 1500 4WD with the 4.7 L engine, with A/C.

THANKS IN Advance!

Ben

I have a 2012 1500 4x4 w/a 4.7 I just had to replace the front sway bars and control arm on the front it cost me $950.

Jeepwalker · Apr 12, 2023

...I have a 2012 1500 4x4 w/a 4.7 I just had to replace the front sway bars and control arm on the front it cost me $950.

While nobody wants to drop a grand to make repairs, it doesn't sound out of line considering the labor involved & parts costs. There's a cost to DIY too ...tools/time/opportunity cost!

I'm DIY on most things, but I see the +/- both ways. Happy truckin' :waytogo:

Cost to replace upper control arms

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