Bad Ball Joints!! help please., any ideas? Options

[snagmor]

Been hearing and feeling this nasty nasty noise when I go over bumps anywhere under about 40 mph, also just randomly taking slow corners, and etc.
Took the car to a shop when I had to get some other things fixed, and they informed me that the ball joint is what is causing the noise. And they also told me that it was going to be another but-load of money to fix that.

So, anybody ever replaced ball joints on a Celica before?

Any suggestions or advice would be incredibly appreciated!

[richee3]

Ball joints are easy. They'll cost less than $60, depending on where you get them, and can be replaced with a ratchet set and a pair of pliers. There's a 17mm castle nut with a cotter pin in it on top of the ball joint, so you'll need the pliers for that. There are two nuts and a bolt underneath the ball joint, mounting it to the control arm. I believe they are all 14mm, but they might be 17mm. You just have to watch and make sure not to round anything off like I did earlier this summer.

When I replaced mine, I had to have the car that day so I walked in and paid $60 apiece at Advance Auto Parts for Moog ball joints, and even the guy working there said I was paying too much. The same Moog ball joints are ~$37 apiece from Rock Auto.