1994 Full Size Chevy Blazer-Custom/Need Advice

ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
So I go round and round about the front end getting fixed. I thought the side guy who got $500 for labor had "per him" fixed everything under there that needed done. Find out he failed to put the grease fittings on the tie rod ball joints. I also find out that the idle arm/assembly/pitman arm, and the steering box are all in dire need of replacement. I am quite unhappy with the side guy to say the least. I went back to him and had him put the truck on a life and he claims everything is fine. So we left not intending to ever go back.

I just can't afford to pay these commercial shops all this money - current estimate for the aforementioned yet-to-be-done work is just over $1k (includes the needed alignment).

Soooooo, anyway I can find someone to do that work for less? Just the parts are going to be pricey if I get the better quality parts and not the cheapo ones. w/o adding in the steering box the parts were going to run about $300 from Napa. Seems like I will never find the end of this money pit? Actually this is the result of my Ex's mentality of ..... if it ain't broke it doesn't get replaced ...... and drive it until it dies, then get another one. Pure laziness IMO.
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
glhs837 said:
Sometimes places like Advance and Autzone might not carry the good stuff, usually Moog. When I did my Chargers stuff (tie rods, upper control arms) I used Rockauto.com and got great prices. pricing the cheapies for your truck, it was about $90 or so for the idler, and like $60 for the pitma. And those were the moog greasble kind, same kind I put on my charger.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1050725,parttype,7368

On that list,all except Ultrapower are good brand names, all OEM (factory) level guys. I would choose the Moog part, or the TRW were it a choice between that and eating lunch.

Same for the Idler arm. $43 for the Moog Problem Solver brand.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1050725,parttype,7328

Now, at Advance auto, same exact Idler arm? $90.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/moog-idler-arm-k6447/20516595-P?searchTerm=idler#

AS for using an online source, Rockauto is rock solid, I know my Charger community has been using them for years. When the daughters Geo crapped it's ignition module, RA had the last OEM one to be found. If you have prices for the parts you bought, might be worth cross shopping that against RA. You do pay shipping, but no state tax.
Click to expand...

I'll be checking for those quality parts online later since they sound like a better deal than Napa.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
ArkRescue said:
So I go round and round about the front end getting fixed. I thought the side guy who got $500 for labor had "per him" fixed everything under there that needed done. Find out he failed to put the grease fittings on the tie rod ball joints. I also find out that the idle arm/assembly/pitman arm, and the steering box are all in dire need of replacement. I am quite unhappy with the side guy to say the least. I went back to him and had him put the truck on a life and he claims everything is fine. So we left not intending to ever go back.

I just can't afford to pay these commercial shops all this money - current estimate for the aforementioned yet-to-be-done work is just over $1k (includes the needed alignment).

Soooooo, anyway I can find someone to do that work for less? Just the parts are going to be pricey if I get the better quality parts and not the cheapo ones. w/o adding in the steering box the parts were going to run about $300 from Napa. Seems like I will never find the end of this money pit? Actually this is the result of my Ex's mentality of ..... if it ain't broke it doesn't get replaced ...... and drive it until it dies, then get another one. Pure laziness IMO.
Click to expand...

Okay, so whose telling you about the other stuff? We'll stipulate the side guys parts (sorry, can't call him a mechanic, double checking your work is pretty basic stuff) are shot, if he installed them dry and left them that way. Luckily, if it's tire rods, those dont cost a bunch, to buy or install. Knowing haw bad women get treated, you might want to get a second opinion on this other work.
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
glhs837 said:
Okay, so whose telling you about the other stuff? We'll stipulate the side guys parts (sorry, can't call him a mechanic, double checking your work is pretty basic stuff) are shot, if he installed them dry and left them that way. Luckily, if it's tire rods, those dont cost a bunch, to buy or install. Knowing haw bad women get treated, you might want to get a second opinion on this other work.
Click to expand...

So far 2 commercial shops have inspected and commented on what was done, and what is left to be done. After check #1 I went back to the side guy and asked about what was not done and he said the shop I went to is in business to make money and are lying. So when I went to commercial business #2 I told them nothing of prior work. They found what #1 found plus more. At this point I won't go back to the side guy since he is the one who ripped me off in my opinion for telling me $500 cash for labor would cover all front end work needed, and he failed to install the grease plugs on the tie rod bearings.

I picked up some grease fittings at Auto Zone yesterday and will buy the additional front end parts online. Now I just need to find someone to install them.
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
ArkRescue said:
I'll be checking for those quality parts online later since they sound like a better deal than Napa.
Click to expand...

okay on RockAuto I've added the Pitman and Idlre Arms and the Idler Arm Bracket Assembly, but I don't see "steering box" anywhere. Is it possible that isn't the name it is under? I've selected Mood so far for all the parts. PS I hope you got your coffee w/o waiting too long today :biggrin: .
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
ArkRescue said:
okay on RockAuto I've added the Pitman and Idlre Arms and the Idler Arm Bracket Assembly, but I don't see "steering box" anywhere. Is it possible that isn't the name it is under? I've selected Mood so far for all the parts. PS I hope you got your coffee w/o waiting too long today :biggrin: .
Click to expand...


Hmmm would it be this: Steering Gear?

http://https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1050725,parttype,7416

or maybe I can get the steering gear rebuild kit:

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1050725,parttype,7397
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
Ken King said:
You are hilarious, Yes it is steering gear, I don't recommend getting a rebuild kit unless you plan on doing the work yourself.
Click to expand...

I'm a non-mechanically inclined woman :biggrin: . Thanks - so the prices I see there vary greatly, so I'll need help from someone in choosing what part(s) go with for the steering gear box or if one main box comes with everything it needs? I guess I could call Rock and ask? They won't laugh at me I bet :frown: .
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
ArkRescue said:
I'm a non-mechanically inclined woman :biggrin: . Thanks - so the prices I see there vary greatly, so I'll need help from someone in choosing what part(s) go with for the steering gear box or if one main box comes with everything it needs? I guess I could call Rock and ask? They won't laugh at me I bet :frown: .
Click to expand...

PS - let me guess ... since there is a core charge, and the part is probably heavy (high shipping cost?) I should buy this part locally?
 
Ken King

Ken King

A little rusty but not crusty
PREMO Member
ArkRescue said:
I'm a non-mechanically inclined woman :biggrin: . Thanks - so the prices I see there vary greatly, so I'll need help from someone in choosing what part(s) go with for the steering gear box or if one main box comes with everything it needs? I guess I could call Rock and ask? They won't laugh at me I bet :frown: .
Click to expand...

Aww, come on. I bet you could get a chuckle out of them. :lol:
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
I will try to hit everything I read, first off most shops will try to take advantage of people, and they can do a good job of it. However some shops are really just trying to point stuff out, and a second opinion is always a good idea. I have only a few mechanics I trust for things I do not want to tackle. Mark at Prolink in Prince Frederick is one, and the Sunoco on 235 outside of gate 1 is another. I understand not all people can or want to do major maintenance themselves, so a good mechanic is sometimes a necessity.

As for non-greasable parts being junk, the OEM Delco ball joints last over 100k miles, I replaced them with MOOG's and they will need to be replaced soon. The OEM Declo's are non serviceable. Also unless the new parts had the holes pre-drilled for zerk fittings, then they are sealed non-serviceable and whatever grease is in them is all they get. When I redid my front end it was about $750 for all new parts, new upper and lower ball joints, new upper control arms, new out tie rod ends, new sway bar end liinks, new bushings, new wheel hubs, new struts, new strut mounts, and new springs. Took me about 22 hours total to replace everything, and install the lift kit and new shocks and end links in the rear. All parts ordered from rockauto, other than the hubs.

Also for a comparison, a new complete lower control arm is $145 for a MOOG one on Rock auto. The same one is $375 at Advanced Auto. Rockauto also has top notch customer service, and you can always find a coupon code online.
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
So far I have not had any luck in finding a mechanic that wants to do to the remaining front end work: idle arm/assembly, pitman arm, and the gear box. I don't want to order the parts until I have someone lined up. Why? Because if any parts are incorrect you generally only have so many days to get an exchange/refund. I can't even think about getting the wheels/tires until I get all the mechanical stuff completed. I am still looking for a mechanic who is willing to help out a lady who works FT and does critter rescue also and is always broke due to the critters ...... Waaaaa (does crying help me?).
 
GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
ArkRescue said:
...... Waaaaa (does crying help me?).
Click to expand...


Nope, Not At All .

.... why are you replacing the Pitman Arm

:doh:



never mind Chevy put a ball joint on the end

that's retarded .... the ball joint goes on the tie rod or track arm
 
Last edited:
GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
this is a proper Pitman Arm

1935-1936-FORD-STEERING-PITMAN-ARM.jpg
 
ArkRescue

ArkRescue

Adopt me please !
So I started this thread in the Fall of 2011, it's now the Fall of 2014, and I STILL don't have the SUV work finished yet. That's a LONG time. I was reminded of it by the Walmart Oil Change thread. It's not like this is just some hot rod hobby of mine (like some guys have to do in their "spare" time). I actually need to use this vehicle for the critter rescue, and it would be helpful to use it this coming Winter.

Here is what I know of that is left to do: idle arm, idle arm assembly, pitman arm, and probably the gear box. I am HOPING that I can find someone willing to the labor for around $350, is that unreasonable?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top