$4,000 for a front end alignment

[KS Toronado]

Last edited Sat Jun 7, 2025, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)

2002 Ford Explorer Sport with 125,000 miles. Steering was pulling to the left just a little, would only
notice it at highway speeds so I took it to an alignment shop. Believe my mistake was telling them,
"sure whatever it needs".

It's my understanding when it comes to ball joints the only one that ever wears out is the one in the
A-arm that the spring is pushing against. But the shop said "NO, both ball joints always wear out on
Explorers".

Then on to the alignment machine, "We can't align because the left rear leaf spring is weak and we'll
need to replace that also". I reluctantly agreed and they knew I wasn't a happy camper. So then they
get 2 new rear springs and inform me "You always have to replace springs in pairs". We never did
in my father's automotive repair shop.

Then it was all new "U" bolts and shackles because "They're rusty and we couldn't get the nuts off"
Mechanics run into rusty nuts and bolts on a daily basis and should know how to work them
loose or drill them out. I even offered to drill them out for them but they wouldn't allow that.

So this morning it's finally supposed to be finished and I can pick it up. When they called yesterday
he said "I haven't totaled your bill yet but it's around $4,000. They had it over 2 weeks.

So my friends my question is did both ball joints (4 total) and both rear springs need replacing?
I don't think so.

ON EDIT.........

Bill was $3750.31, their markup on all the stuff they bought from rock auto was astronomical. My brother
said depending on the part, his body shop used a 25 to 35% markup. Rock auto doesn't suggest a list price
so these guys go with a 100 to 150% markup, each spring cost me $512.50. And when asking about the
markup I got a raised voice and a dirty look with "the shipping on all that stuff was outrageous !!!!!"
When his voice got one octave lower than shouting, wrote a check and left.