[Smackeyacky]

I assume this is munted. How much work is involved in changing them out? Seems like you can buy a pair fairly cheap but will I need spring compressors and whatnot to do the job?

 

[Smackeyacky]

This car is still off the road so time is not an issue. I do have ball joint separators and a good place to work so i will just get into it. I have to replace the brake rotors anyway so might as well go all the way I guess.

 

[Smackeyacky]

Oh, I can see rock auto have two levels of parts for the front suspension, I'm guessing I should be looking at the premium end?

 

[Smackeyacky]

I'm looking at Rock Auto mostly because I'm in Australia and the local parts availability / knowledge of Ebay sellers is not what it should be (admittedly, a 300C down here is not a common vehicle). Rock Auto were the only place I could find that had the right water pump I needed, so I figure they will be a safe bet for suspension parts although if anybody has other suggestions I'm all ears as the delivery time will be weeks.

From this link I'm currently looking at the Dorman arms, which appear to be mid-priced (i.e. not the cheapest ones)
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chrysler,2006,300,5.7l+v8,1431865,suspension,control+arm,10401

Rock Auto have 3 different categories: Economy, Daily Driver and Premium
None of the cheap options include the ball joint which is unsurprising.
All prices are in Dollarydoos (um, AUD) single item, probably 2 required although the drivers side looks OK I'll replace it anyway.

Lowest priced part is from Ultra Power at $33.72 Probably best avoided.
Quick Steer is $45
Mevotech "original grade" is $56
Dorman without ball joints is $77
Dorman with the ball joint is $84 <-------------------- I am here

From "Daily Driver"
MOOG is $77 (no ball joint)
Delphi is $88 (no ball joint)
Mevotech "supreme" is $103 (upgrade part, no ball joint)
MOPAR is $258!!!! with a ball joint which I hope is using rich corinthian leather instead of a rubber boot.
(although these are $263 at Summit Racing - thought I would check there to see if it was for a pair but apparently this is the single price).

I can't see a listing for the correct ball joint so I'm a little concerned about springing for the Mevotech "supreme".
edit: Yah, I didn't see the ball joint section. Ranges from $9.84 up to $84 for a Moog adjustable one.

Has anybody got a strong objection to the Dorman with the included ball joint? Alternatively a local company "Pedders" apparently made a replacement part but their website is not useful.

 

[Smackeyacky]

My apologies. I thought you were in Canada. ... Everything is getting really expensive or hard to find.

I always figured parts would be a bit of an issue here in Oz although I've run big American cars before without problems with parts, not good to hear that the parts supply seems to be drying up.

 

[Smackeyacky]

But some people are funny. A mate put new brake shoes on his F100. He told HIS mate he could have the old shoes (still 1/3rd linings) for his F100, as "he is broke/can't afford/do him a favour..." So his mate comes over - drives MANY miles in an 8 mpg vehicle. Gives my mate a carton of Jim Beam cans for the "second hand shoes." So he spent 4 times what new shoes cost on grog and fuel, because he "couldn't afford new shoes."

But ball joints - Just have to get to know what's what.

Ha this made me laugh. I've met a few "broke" people like that who always have a fridge full of beer and two cars needing 50 cent parts to get them going again in the yard

I do try to avoid getting stuff from the US (especially at the moment, shipping was always expensive from there but it's ludicrous at the moment). For some reason, shipping things from the UK is both much faster and much cheaper - have managed to find most of my missing interior parts from a UK seller and it wasn't expensive. I did try a few local wreckers at first, particularly to track down a parking brake handle (which was missing). They refused to sell me anything other than the entire parking brake assembly, for $300. I think the handle cost me $20 posted from the UK.

I guess I could try ordering the lower suspension arms from the UK, might be quite a bit of difference in the postage cost. Rock Auto is quoting $80 to get me those parts by the cheapest method which seems a touch excessive.

One trap I fell for earlier in my project was ordering something from an Australian seller who implied they had stock, but really just ordered the parts from Rock Auto, marked them up and had them posted directly. Never again.

 

[Smackeyacky]

Ordered the Dorman ones that come with ball joints given the Moog are currently out of stock.