My autohublocker fell out for no reason the other day. I posted about it, but no one replied. We took off the wheel, replaced the hub locker, and reassembled, and all was well. However, jsut to be safe, I took it to have it checked out at a local Big-O tire shop. They said the hublocker was fine, but that I needed alot of OTHER stuff done (typical). Here is the run down:
Camber Kit 2x$25+$50 in labor=$150
Upper control arm assembly w/ball joint=2x$200+$69 in labor=$538
Lower ball joints=2x$64 +99 in labor= $326
Alignment, Thrust= $49.99
Shop fees= $53.20
Tax= $38.73
Total= $1,155.92

Now, I dont feel anything wrong while driving, and the auto hublocker was fine. So how can someone justify $1200 in work for something that isnt really broken? I figure I might try to do some of this work myself, if it isnt too hard. Anyone know anything baout this stuff?

 

It sounds like they are trying to tell you the front suspension is SHOT! Does the truck have squeaks or noise when hitting bumps from the front end? If it still drives good with no excess slop in the steering wheel, I would get a second opinion. Sure sounds like they are trying to make some serious $$$ off you.

 

Their full of crap, there is no way you need that much repair on a 99 model truck if something hasn't happened to it (like hitting a curb at 50 mph).

A lot of your small shops will try to pull crap like this as well because they either don't know how to diagnose problems on the newer cars or can't afford the equipment so to try to keep up they will say you have more mechanical problems with your vehicle then what you really do.

Also another way you can tell for yourself is to look at your tire wear, if the tire has some really odd wear patterns on just that one side something is wrong, if it looks good like the others then either the problem happened recently or there is nothing wrong.

It could also be very possable that one of those things are shot, perhaps one with a lot of laber involved, and they figure they might as well replace everything when it doesn't need to be.

I would get a second oppinion definatly, if something is wrong in that area you will know something is wrong, it may do all kinds of weird stuff, pull to one side of the road, drift, vibrate, knock, squeek, dogtrack, handle corners irratically, bad tire wear, wobble in steering wheel, but your almost garanteed to be able to see or feel a problem.