# Do Mechanics  Replace Balljoints Anymore?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mechanics-replace-balljoints-anymore/532800
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 17, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mechanics-replace-balljoints-anymore/532800 "2010-03-17T22:43:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 2

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### Author: ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mechanics-replace-balljoints-anymore/532800/21 "2010-03-19T13:25:38Z")

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> [@Gary\_T](#):
>
> Maybe. Maybe not. An integral control arm/ball joint assembly can be lighter and sleeker than a separable assembly. Sometimes the priority is actually improving the design rather than screwing the customer.

Also, I’d bet the most important thing they consider engineering wise is whether or not it makes the ORIGINAL new car cheaper to make. The car company wins because you are more likely to buy their car. And you win because the car is cheaper to buy. Or, if its a more upscale car, they get better performance and/or more reliability for buck. I doubt the master plan is to screw you on the repair sales. At best IMO its probably just a minor unintended side effect. Still kinda sucks for us shade tree mechanic types that can DIY and the parts cost is our biggest problem.

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