I had a friend take my Dart to an alignment shop while I was at work today, and he tells me that the shop won't do the alignment because I need new upper and lower balljoints on the pass. side. Then he tells me that it's going to be $350 for them to fix it for me. That's way too much money for me right now. So, I need to know first: how can I check to make sure this is legit. Second: if (and where) I can get the parts for relatively cheap. Third: if it's something that I can do myself.

Any input you've got would be great.

thanks,
josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

This post should help you check them out;
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9231
$350 sounds a little high for two BJs and alignment.
Parts are available easy enough (check your favorite parts store), installation requires hammers, a pickle fork, and the right socket for the upper BJ; it's threaded into the arm. That's probably the hardest part of the job, but with an impact gun, the socket, and penetrating oil, you'll be fine.

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O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

My son and I rebuilt the front end on his '69 Coronet and he took it in for an alignment. They called him later that day and said they couldn't align it because it needed new ball joints and other parts and the bill would be around $500. He hadn't told them it was freshly rebuilt, and since we had cleaned and painted all the supension parts, it was obvious they never even pulled it into the shop before they called.

Needless to say, make sure your shop is honest before you have them do anything.