BIF1
10-29-2009, 01:34 PM
I have a 2003 GMC 2500HD 4wd 8.1L. Rancho 4" lift, with BFG AT 315/75/16's.
Last week while deer hunting on a rocky bumpy road 40 miles from the nearest paved road, the upper ball joint on the driver's side upper control arm, broke. The knuckle and wheel leaned in, lower ball joint tweaked, shock dented, ABS line broke, etc. etc..........Anyway, it wasn't good and it was quite a project to get it towed out. Ironically, I was on this site and GM-trucks a couple weeks ago looking for replacement advice on the ball joints as they were starting to leak grease.......
So the auto body shop where it was towed is replaced the upper control arm and the 2 ball joints on that side as part of the claim. However, as soon as I get it back I'd like to replace all of the ball joints and tie rod ends with Moog parts. Can anyone recommend a good shop in AZ (Phoenix area)to replace the components and give a good aligment? I often don't trust your run of the mill shop without high recommendations, especially for lifted trucks.
Oh, I have an issue with the steering too. A month earlier, while scouting in the same vicinity, my driver's tire hit a nice sized rock on a slow downhill and my steering wheel has been cocked to 2 o'clock while driving straight ever since. My investigation indicated the steering shaft was fine, pitman, idler arms appeared to be okay and straight with the wheels, but the steering box input key was turned when everything else was straight. Perhaps the pitman arm turned on the splined output shaft??? Anyway, I'd want a good shop that could figure that out too. Thanks.
Last week while deer hunting on a rocky bumpy road 40 miles from the nearest paved road, the upper ball joint on the driver's side upper control arm, broke. The knuckle and wheel leaned in, lower ball joint tweaked, shock dented, ABS line broke, etc. etc..........Anyway, it wasn't good and it was quite a project to get it towed out. Ironically, I was on this site and GM-trucks a couple weeks ago looking for replacement advice on the ball joints as they were starting to leak grease.......
So the auto body shop where it was towed is replaced the upper control arm and the 2 ball joints on that side as part of the claim. However, as soon as I get it back I'd like to replace all of the ball joints and tie rod ends with Moog parts. Can anyone recommend a good shop in AZ (Phoenix area)to replace the components and give a good aligment? I often don't trust your run of the mill shop without high recommendations, especially for lifted trucks.
Oh, I have an issue with the steering too. A month earlier, while scouting in the same vicinity, my driver's tire hit a nice sized rock on a slow downhill and my steering wheel has been cocked to 2 o'clock while driving straight ever since. My investigation indicated the steering shaft was fine, pitman, idler arms appeared to be okay and straight with the wheels, but the steering box input key was turned when everything else was straight. Perhaps the pitman arm turned on the splined output shaft??? Anyway, I'd want a good shop that could figure that out too. Thanks.