Southern California - shop(s) that can re-build my front end

I agree a front end rebuild is not really difficult. It does however require special tools and safety precautions for someone that has not done the work before. Then when done, it will still require a trip to the front end alignment shop.

Pick your poison due it yourself or pay a shop. Sometimes paying a shop to do a job is a smart move. I think it really comes down to what are the end results your expecting. If it's a driver and you don't care if the remaining parts are cleaned and painted I recommend just paying a shop to handle the job. I'm guessing $400 to 600 without parts for bushings, ball joints, pittman, idler arms, tie rod ends replacement and alignment.

If you want everything cleaned and painted looking nice. You have some time to build some special tools or buy them. Like torsion bar removers, bushing press tools, along with purchasing a ball joint socket. Then do the job yourself.

Be warned that in addition to the tools I already mentioned you should have a stocked garage with the normal stuff like a vice, jack, jack stands, air compressor and some air tools are also nice for a job like this.

Some of these members make it sound like changing a tire, it's so easy. Well it's not really that easy the first time around if you don't have the right tools.