> My '82 Westy needs all four ball joints replaced. I bought the parts from
> my import specialist FLAPS before checking the labor cost for
> installation.
> Some shops won't install customer parts, but the ones that will say it's
> about a 6 hour job, so about $300 labor. Has anyone had it done for less?

Unlike a Bus, the ball joints on the Vanagon just bolt on.  (I know this to
be the case on the two I replaced on mine - upper, I think- and believe it
to be the case with all four.)  The two that I did on mine were incredibly
simple to do, and anyone quoting six hours is either amazingly slow or just
plain greedy.  Take a look at the other two and see if it's the same.  You
may be able to tackle this yourself and just bring it in for a realignment.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com