new user: questions for cost of repair

I am looking at getting another blazer (I had one and it started on fire--insurance covered...), this particular one I am looking at would need all new balljoints and the 4x4 is vacuum locked (in their words).

it is a 1993 s10 blazer.

what kind of cost for in shop repair should i expect for these kind of repairs?

What is exactly is vacuum locked? The transfer case? The engine?

You can do he ball joints yourself. Save the money.

Some shops charge $65+ hr/labor at least 2.75 hrs to do them.

Just paid $1500 for the ball joints and new tires since the ball joints shredded the old ones on my 99 Bravada.

YIKES

What did they put on for tires? Even at $200/tire (rediculously high for normal tires), that leaves another $700+ for ball joints. My 255/50R17 summer performance tires for my Bonneville only cost me $125/tire mounted, balanced, and installed...

I got both the upper and lower ball joints on one side replaced for $150 at the local Monroe muffler after I replaced one side for $50 (parts only). Now granted, I got a great price for the second side which is why I had them do it after getting frustrated on the first side. But wow, $1500...

Ya, I was gonna scream about how crazy that was as well.

Getting your ball joints done should be fairly inexpensive, even if you get them done at the shop.

Was that in AUS funds?

Tires were uniroyal Laredos. Yeah, I won't be returning to that garage again. I had one break completely (wheel almost completely fell off!!) last year on my Jimmy and that was cheaper to fix!

Wow! Did they give you any kind of estimate? That is outrageous!

And I definitely will NOT be putting Uniroyal Laredo's back on my Bravada when it's time to replace them. I need a higher load rated tire for what I do with the truck and I DO NOT like a tire that squats when lightly loaded like the laredos do at max pressure.

quote:

And I definitely will NOT be putting Uniroyal Laredo's back on my Bravada when it's time to replace them. I need a higher load rated tire for what I do with the truck and I DO NOT like a tire that squats when lightly loaded like the laredos do at max pressure.

Yep, "house" tires hold air. They do nothing for comfort and loading.

I use my Jimmy for "work" related items. Hauling, towing, etc. The Bravada is more of the "luxury" vehicle for long trips or carting the kids around so i don't mind comfort tires on that one.

Yeah I know what you mean, but being used to sportier sedans, I like some responsiveness out of my tires and the laredo's are too much like driving with marshmellows as tires.

Back to our original topic...

sizzlebox, did you ever get an estimate on the repairs at any local repair shops? I'd start there, but if you have the tools and ambition to do it yourself, it really isn't that complicated of a job and we can walk you through it step by step.

Let us know!