Brother in law dropped his Accord off at 60k miles for an inspection. Since they told him his timing belt was due, I had to take anything else they had to say with a grain of salt. They also told him his ball joints are shot in the front. I don't know if they meant upper or lower, they just said "shoulder."

Aside from checking the boots and shaking the wheel from 12 and 6 positions, is there any measurement that can be made to support their claims? Or will it end up being my word "No, they feel fine and the boots are intact" against theirs "No, we need to replace these or you can't pass inspection."??

I've scoured several Helms manuals and can't find anything...

Thanks in advance!

 

Do you have a Dial indicator? If you want to get technicaly there are OEM specs for balljoint movement with a dial indicator. If there's NO movement in the upper or lower with the car resting on the front LCA the inspection place is trying to dick you over. I've worked with people who used to write inspections and EVERY car they touched they were pushed to write up tie-rods/wheel bearings/balljoints to make the quota for the shop for the month.

My rec. is go to a different shop for the inspection and see what they say. Or fight it out with the shop you took it to currently.

-Froth

 

big surprise!

when he calls to tell them he doesn't want the work done, and he'll be picking the car up, "another service manager came in and said they had gotten the wrong car and none of those things actually needed to be done."

 

And when your brother in law would have had them work on the car,they would probably have told him that he needs a new "Johnson rod" as well.