Has anyone priced lower ball joints for a 96 - up Xk8?

My INDY called and told me that I needed lower ball joints.
I almost fell out of my chair when I was told they would cost me $400.00 each. I told him I would take care of it.

I then went on the net and looked in Jag Bits and found them for $79.00 each. They are only the ball joint and you press out the old and press in the new, just like US cars did in the 70's & 80's.

What is funny is that I should have waited before I commited to buy them because I could have picked them up localy for $44.00 ea w/grease fittings.

Jag and the majority of parts houses want to sell the control arm with the ball joint in it for $400 plus. What a racket!!!

Hope this helps someone save a few dollars.

 

Lower ball joints are not replaceable items in the lower control arms. I did read about individual attempts to replace by pressing them out, however, at the time I could not source aftermarket items.

I think part of the problem in replacing lower front ball joints lies the odd angle between the control arm forged flats, and tapered center of the ball joint. I would have a specialist shop press the new pieces. For safety's sake, at least spend some time making a slip-free jig.

As I recall, the cheapest list price I could find was from JPLV Jag about three years ago; and it was $720 per pair or something thereabouts.

It is good that you located another source. Anything retail from Jag for our cars is mega bucks.

 

I have rebuilt control arms with factory supplied lower ball joints for sale on an exchange basis. If you are interested let me know. I had to make a special jig to hold the control arms in place due to the angles.