lower control arm/balljoint repair
 

How much should i expect to spend.... from what i can find its about a hundred bucks per side?

big job? any tricks?

richpin has a video on youtube follow at own risk

I just did one on my 97 Sc2 a few weeks back -- "tricks" are in the video

recommend the pricey dealer part -- the sway bar bushings on the cheaper ones are purported to trash easily

otherwise I've read moog works well

nice. i had found that vid as well, im gonna give it a go on my own i even have a come-along handy to use.

Im using cheap parts tho lol cheap is the idea, hence the reason i didnt spend over $500 on the thing!

36 in crowbar 30 is not quite long enough

The video URL is;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PjkfDp8mLE
and
a handy crow bar extension tool is to use a large box end wrench. One with a big enough nut size so that the crow bar fits through the hole for the nut slopply and it can add an extra foot or so to the length of the crowbar.
If you don't have a come-along and there is a Harbor Freight store available, they can be purchased their along with a logging chain fairly cheap and some times it takes a certain hammer to successfully pop a ball joint in the manner described. If this is not so working invest in a "Pickle Fork" which will. They come in different sizes, larger for ball joints and equivelent, smaller for steering arms and Tie Rod ends.

sweet. im liking this forum already :)

luckily, i used to work at a tool/equipment rental place and still have a good relationsip with the owner. i can get ahold of a picklefork set if the 'peen doesnt pop it out

if you get some downforce on the control arm while whackin the knuckle it should release