Chevrolet Repair: ball joints 2000 chevy, chevy blazer, ball joints

Question
hello,

thanks for taking my question!
I have a 2000 chevy blazer,,it started this wobbling and kind of shifty-ness (shaking) when i turn corners, I took it in,,and they said it needed all 4 ball joints (upper & lower)
will cost over 700.00 dollars,,so i have to wait til next pay check...

how do I know if it is ok to drive it til then? i don't want to be driving & the wheels coming off...
is there any way to tighten something until i can get it in to be repaired?

thank you so much,

Linda in NC

Answer
Hello Linda,

I have no way of checking yours, but for a 2000 to need all four ball joints, you are doing some serious off roading. Didn't say how many miles are on it.

Now I'm sorry, but I think it is possible some place is trying to sell you something you don't need.

You didn't say where you took it, but i would recommend you have someone else check it. Prefferably someone who knows a lot about vehicles, but isn't in the business to sell parts.
I realize someone like that may be hard to find, but friends and neighbors can sometimes tell you where someone like that is.

I maintain a fleet of trucks, some of them Blazers. Many four wheel drives, and a lot of them Chevies, and ALL see severe service. I very seldom have a need for ball joints.
In fact, it has been a couple years since I replaced any.
So you can see why I find it strange when someone says you need all four.

Another thing that will cause the wobbly shiftyness in turns, especially slow speed sharp turns, is worn, or bad tires.

So please get a second or third opinion, cause that place may try to tell you tires are needed also, because of the wear caused by the ball joints, and sell you them also.
See where I'm going??
The tires may be all that was needed, but they sold you the $700. ball joint deal also.

So find someone you can trust for a fair and impartial opinion, and don't be surprised if he says you don't need any ball joints.b But then, there is the possibility that you may have one or more bad, but it would surprise me.

Van