I took my 1985 RX7 GS in for inspection and was told I had play in the lower front ball joints, 1/16 on one side and 3/32 in the other. Total cost: almost $600.
I went for a second opinion and was told 1/8 play is allowed and the next day he inspected it and I was told there was no play in the joints. Who is right? I should be getting a final arbitrator shortly but I want to make sure the right decision is made. One of the inspection stations will probably get in trouble.

 

How are we suppose to know?
FWIW, two things....
*You have a 25 yr old car with who-knows how many miles. I'd bet there IS at least some play. How much and whether it's within acceptable range can't be answered on a forum.
*$600 seems high for replacing two lower ball-joints.

 

Just thought someone might know what the acceptable range is.
The almost $600 includes front wheel alignment of $89. But maybe I can find a cheaper price.

 

I can't say that swapping balljoints is my fav thing to do. But with an air-chisel and a ball-joint fork attachment it shouldn't be the worse job either. Not familiar as some others here with FB ball-joints, maybe there's something particularly heinous about R & R'ing them? Even with an alignment...which is a good thing to get, it still sounds high. How much are they charging you for the ball-joints? Anything else included....tie-rod ends, bushings?

 

They are charging 71 apiece for the ball joints and 168 apiece for labor, total $477plus 89 for front wheel alignment - almost $600. Both sides like I said are within1/8 play and another station said this is within tolerance and I don't need them.
There has to be a standard and somebody is wrong. If I have to i will go to somewhere else for another price. In this state they put you on a computer so you can't just go to another station unless you get an arbitrator involved. They take advantage of this and this one station says I have wear on everything else, hoses, etc. but I say if not broke don't fix.

 

you have to jack the front of the car and put on a jack stand place your hand on the top and bottom of the tire pull the top of the tire toward you and push the bottom away this is the only true way to tell