If you're in Phoenix, talk to Terry at Network Alignment.  They're out west
at 67th Ave & Bethany, but he's worth the drive.  Tell him Karl Wolz sent
you.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: pep boy's said after oil change I need ball joints....

> This is one of those things that unethical shops will tell you so they
> can "make the next boat payment," as the Car Talk guys say.  They know
> you probably can't check them out yourself, and usually make it sound
> like a safety issue, which it is, but you would know something was wrong
> by the way the vehicle wanders on the highway.
>
> First, ball joints on VW vans of all types almost never wear out due to
> the light load up front UNLESS the boot is torn and water/grit get in.
>
> You CAN check ball joints yourself:
>
> Jack up the car and inspect the boots first.  If they are okay the
> joints are probably okay.  Then get a block of wood and a pry bar and
> lift the wheel up with the pry bar while looking at the lower ball
> joint.  If the lower control arm moves up with no play in the joint it
> is fine.  For the upper grab the top of the tire and push and pull in
> and out feeling for any side to side play in the upper joint. If none
> they are fine and you need to take your VW somewhere else in the future!
>
> BTW, if you are in or near Seattle we have one of the few honest and
> competent "under car" shops in the world, Tru Line Frame and Wheel.  I
> have been going to them for 25 years.  Recently my son took his 4WD
> Blazer to a gas station shop advertising a $39.95 alignment.  They would
> not do the alignment unless he had them do $650 worth of repairs to the
> suspension.  I took it to Tru Line and it cost $165 for a new idler arm
> and an alignment.  This other shop even quoted a price for repacking the
> *permanently sealed* front wheel bearings!
>
> --
> Stuart MacMillan
> Manager, Case Program
> 800-909-8244 ext 208
>
> Getting your share of the Net yet?
> http://www.cobaltgroup.com
> http://www.casedealer.com/demo
> http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo
>