Getting lower ball joints and upper ball joints - do I need a camber kit?

Alignment shop says I may need a camber kit. They won't know until they put it back together and do an alignment. The upper control arm along with the lower and upper ball joints are going to be replaced. Can't see the need to spend another $200 for a camber kit.

What is your recommendation?

 

By "camber kit" I'm assuming they are referring to the eccentric bolts. Chances are they need to be replaced for a proper alignment, it's not that uncommon. My alignment guy wouldn't touch my truck until I replaced the eccentrics... they were froze in pretty good, I had to cut them out with a Sawzall and Diablo blade.

 

If it's the eccentric bolts you need @Tundra2 has one new complete bolt/sleeve/cam for sale here.

 

Camber kit? The eccentrics don’t need to be replaced unless they are seized. Clean them up and add a little anti-seize before they go back together.

It’s a total of 3 pieces per side, 6 per control arm. You only need to replace 2 if they are seized. I got mine from Toyota and they were like $80 for all 4 for 1 control arm.

Only thing that would make me change that would be if you are in the rust belt and they are dissolved.

I’d find out exactly what they are talking about.

 

Is the truck stock or lifted? If lifted, you may need uppers.

 

Pretty much stock except for a couple of spacers on the front coil and and add a leaf on the back. They want $1200.00 to replace the upper/lower ball joints and upper control arms, including the camber kit + an alignment included in price. I did a quick check on Rockauto and the parts to replace are not expensive. I think I'm just going to pick the truck up tomorrow and do it myself and then take it back and have them do the alignment once I replace the components. The money I save I can use for tires...

Got a good source for parts? They talked about using Moog....

 

I installed a set of Moog eccentrics and they have grease zerks, I like.

 

OEM lower ball joints.

 

How difficult is it to replace these? I know it's just 3 or 4 bolts on the LCA. Then do I need a press to get the BJ off the spindle and to install the new one?

 

Its not $1200 difficult....holy crap. I've never needed a press, just hammer and socket....but a press is only like $200 even if you needed one.

 

Only way you need cam kits is if they are seized. Only way to know if they're seized is to try to turn them.

 

The lower ball joint also is the steering knuckle. You'll need to remove 4 bolts, the tapered ball joint into the lower arm and the outer tie rod end.

No press needed. A ball joint separator or picklefork and hammer will work.