03 maxima ball joints ??? help

[ak03maxima]

ok guys i took my 03 maxima to the local Meineke, cuz theres a noise every time it goes over a bump, they told me that the front struts were leaking, and it would be $850 to fix it, but i was kind of suspicious about it, so i took it to sears and they told me that the struts were good, but the lower ball joints are worn out, it be $500 to fix it, i then call the nissan dealer and they told me it would be over $1000 cuz they have to get the ball joint control arm, theres no way that they can just install just the ball joints, so i dont know what to do.... the ball joints are about $50 for the pair on the net but there are different ball joints, not sure wich ones to get, i might just end up selling the max, it only has 43000 miles one so i can still get some cash for it.....

[allensteiner]

don't sell. the ball joints are easy - i did mine not long ago. you won't need a new control arm either, it takes a lot to groove that out. but that's me with a 95 max. maybe someone else here knows more about 03.

[allensteiner]

check the fsm, section su page 13:

nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/2003

[johnnyd6404]

I cant believe the ball joints are blown allready I have more than double the miles on my 2k2 and have no front end problems at all... and I do live in pothole county USA. Maybe its a tie rod jack up the car and see if the wheel has any play in it and you should be able to see where it is moving around hence what needs replacing.

[ak03maxima]

well so far not so good.... i try to get the ball joints yesterday from napa and they give me one bigger than the other one, so i had to return it. now i call all the other auto parts stores and they dont have them, they'll have to special order them.... am gonna try after checkin for the tie rods, to see if i can get them to install just one for now.....

[ak03maxima]

I cant believe the ball joints are blown allready I have more than double the miles on my 2k2 and have no front end problems at all... and I do live in pothole county USA. Maybe its a tie rod jack up the car and see if the wheel has any play in it and you should be able to see where it is moving around hence what needs replacing.

hey man i just jacked up the max and there is not wheel play at all...

[allensteiner]

the knock might just be the strut bearing. open the hood, look at the top of the strut that'smaking the noise and start shaking the car and pumping up and down - if the strut tip moves too much there's your problem.

[johnnyd6404]

maybe its just your bushings in the struts\shocks I think if it was your ball joints there would be some wheel play you might want to try an independent garage not one of those chains but I'm no mechanic so maybe I am wrong about the wheel play... I dont know but good luck to you.