upper control arms
 

I was told by sears that both of my upper control arms and lower ball joints are bad. Is this a common occurrence? I don't feel any problems while driving. What are good places to look for replacement parts and what brands do people recommend? Thanks!

stay OEM/ AC Delco only, have had Aftermarket arms separate.

Before you go running off to the nearest auto parts warehouse, get a second opinion on the condition of the parts in question. I'm not saying they're wrong or trying to replace good parts, it is more of a peace of mind thing. And yes, AC Delco is recommended replacement parts for Hummer. I have had good luck with MOOG products, but haven't used them on my Hummer yet.

How many miles on your truck?
It highly unlikely that all 4 ball joint are bad at the same time.

Get a second opinion from an independent mechanic. Stay away from the chains. At most of those places the "employees" work on commission. The higher the repair bill, the more money they make.


Look on Rockauto.com for parts. Good prices on AC Delco,

+1 on 2nd opinion.

Second opinion from my father's shop. The front driver side upper control arm was the only one that had a little movement. They said I could get by with it for a while but it will only get worse. I ordered ACDelco 45D1388 from Amazon with amazon prime one day shipping should be here today. $103.46 as opposed from $256 from the shop. $303 for the labor and I am back on the street. My father's shop wanted to use Dorman 521-949 (which was also on Amazon prime) but the reviews were mixed. Any comments on either product?

Dorman used to be good stuff, like 25 years ago. Now most of their crap is cheap because it was reverse engineered through China. So if you want Chinese or Taiwanese parts on your vehicle, its a great source.

Yep. The Doctor is right. The Dorman (and Maz) stuff is built in China. Meets OE specifications but will not last. The stuff is designed for used car dealers to get a vehicle out the door.