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Am I wrong? 02' Z71 Avalanche CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT ISSUE

Shylok's

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2021
Messages
52
Location
Maine
Today I went in for a front wheel alignment, but had to have the upper ball joint on the driver's side cut off the last mechanic welded it on 😠 so it needed to be replaced in order to align it correctly.

Well instead of the mechanic asking me if I wanted a new upper control arm with pushed in ball joint or just put a new upper ball joint he went and said he didn't know the model or manufacturer of my trucks upper control arm and that it is after market. From my belief it's stock and he's full of sh!t. He said that he didn't know what type of ball joint to order and the one he got from Napa for my truck was too big cuz the control arm is after market..... so in stead he replaced my whole upper control arm with a pressed in ball joint in the new control arm instead of just getting a ball joint like the other side.

Btw I bought the ball joints that were on there myself online under my Vin number and they fit perfect. Thing is the other ball joints and on the passenger side upper ball joint is completely different. So both upper ball joints are nothing alike.
I just myself did the whole front end suspension except the ball joints. Axles, hubs, struts, inner and outter tie rods, rotors, calipers and brakes on both front sides.

Won't this make the other ball joint wear out the passenger side more causing new problems on all the new suspension parts I just finished putting in last week??

Should I buy a passenger upper control arm with pressed in ball joint to match the driver's side?

My truck is already pulling to the left after t min of driving off the shops lot.

I'm up in arms. Cost me $300 for an alignment basically actually more cuz the last mechanic screwed Everything up.

If I do get a matching one I'll have to do a whole other new alignment done. He didn't ask me he just did it. If that's the case should I have to replace the passenger side shouldnt I get a free alignment?

Idk I am really beat. I just want my truck to drive. Sucks walking paying for taxis and riding a bicycle cuz mechanics here are idiots! Except me that is 😏. I'm just confused and just feel defeated. No matter what I do I'm always have to fix something someone else did.

Every mechanic trys to screw me over cuz I'm a girl and I'm sick of it! I had to pay him or I couldn't leave. Please somebody help me out and let me know if I right or wrong.

I don't want to keep driving my truck on all these me parts just to ruined them again, thank you.



ygmn - Added paragraphs to make it easier to read
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Also he charged me $120 freaking dollars for the one upper ball joint and $70 for the upper control arm. Practically high way robbery.

And he will only put in the exspensive parts nothing else at all. He didn't ask me or tell me that.

He came in and told me I needed a new ball joint cuz the welded on just wasn't on correctly and I agreed to pay, even though extream, I agreed to pay for the ball joint. Then after I got to pay and he says oh ya I had to put in a new upper control arm in too. I was like huh...wth?

I feel like I wanna give up. Ppl herr just f stuff up for me and taken my last penny. I've paid 10 times what I should for my truck to be fixed amd I worse than ever, stolen parts off of it, scammed swapped out my transfer case tge list goes on.

I though finally ok all I need is an alignment and now idk what I need or what to do I just am broke amd feeling really hopeless at this point. I dont want to damage all the work I just did and all the new parts I put in cuz of the last mechanic.

Anyone know if I'll be ok?

Can anyone tell me what a stock 02' z71 Avalanche ball joint and upper control arm came with or looks like please?




ygmn - Added paragraphs to make it easier to read
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Today I went in for a front wheel alignment, but had to have the upper ball joint on the driver's side cut off the last mechanic welded it on 😠 so it needed to be replaced in order to align it correctly.

Well instead of the mechanic asking me if I wanted a new upper control arm with pushed in ball joint or just put a new upper ball joint he went and said he didn't know the model or manufacturer of my trucks upper control arm and that it is after market. From my belief it's stock and he's full of sh!t. He said that he didn't know what type of ball joint to order and the one he got from Napa for my truck was too big cuz the control arm is after market..... so in stead he replaced my whole upper control arm with a pressed in ball joint in the new control arm instead of just getting a ball joint like the other side.

Btw I bought the ball joints that were on there myself online under my Vin number and they fit perfect. Thing is the other ball joints and on the passenger side upper ball joint is completely different. So both upper ball joints are nothing alike.
I just myself did the whole front end suspension except the ball joints. Axles, hubs, struts, inner and outter tie rods, rotors, calipers and brakes on both front sides.

Won't this make the other ball joint wear out the passenger side more causing new problems on all the new suspension parts I just finished putting in last week??

Should I buy a passenger upper control arm with pressed in ball joint to match the driver's side?

My truck is already pulling to the left after t min of driving off the shops lot.

I'm up in arms. Cost me $300 for an alignment basically actually more cuz the last mechanic screwed Everything up.

If I do get a matching one I'll have to do a whole other new alignment done. He didn't ask me he just did it. If that's the case should I have to replace the passenger side shouldnt I get a free alignment?

Idk I am really beat. I just want my truck to drive. Sucks walking paying for taxis and riding a bicycle cuz mechanics here are idiots! Except me that is 😏. I'm just confused and just feel defeated. No matter what I do I'm always have to fix something someone else did.

Every mechanic trys to screw me over cuz I'm a girl and I'm sick of it! I had to pay him or I couldn't leave. Please somebody help me out and let me know if I right or wrong.

I don't want to keep driving my truck on all these me parts just to ruined them again, thank you.



ygmn - Added paragraphs to make it easier to read
There are different control arms. Aluminum or steel you have to have correct ones. You cannot replace ball joints on the aluminum ones. Mines a 2008 avey
 
You sound very frustrated.
I can get you pictures of mine in a few after I have my coffee.
I have a 2003 Z71 212k miles, original upper and lower control arms. Truck been in the family since new.
Keep the ball joints greased every few oil changes
I believe the 02 and 03 should be the same
20230115_082310.jpg20230115_082252.jpg
 
Last edited:
You sound very frustrated.
I can get you pictures of mine in a few after I have my coffee.
I have a 2003 Z71 212k miles, original upper and lower control arms. Truck been in the family since new.
Keep the ball joints greased every few oil changes
I believe the 02 and 03 should be the same
View attachment 235341View attachment 235342
Never saw this thank you for
There are different control arms. Aluminum or steel you have to have correct ones. You cannot replace ball joints on the aluminum ones. Mines a 2008 avey
Thank you.
 
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