what's that called? suspension problem

getting close

thanks. i went to my local autozone and they were no help, then to a dealer service department and they said i had to tow the car in for them to tell me what's up, then finally to a second dealer who told me just what was up and what i needed to fix it. sticker shock when they told me the price on the parts, but fortunately they didn't have in stock. local Salvo Auto had for about 1/3 the price.

so then i get home and try to get the old ones off so i can get the new ones on (both, by the way, were busted at about the same place, ie inside that first bushing.) both of course were rusted stuck and with that ball joint on the lower end, nothing to grip on. many hours of moaning and cursing later, neither liquid wrench nor heat doing the trick, i got a vice grip on the inside and cranked it down tight and managed to get it off. the second one, the heat thing was working fine (got about halfway off till it cooled down too much), till she who must be obeyed got me out from under the car to go out to dinner. hopefully come morning i'll be able to finish it up and get the new one on, and that'll be that.

for posterity's sake, the top locknut is a 15mm, the bottom is 17mm, the hex that goes in the end of the lower stud (the only real way to hold it so you can turn the nut) is 6mm. the kit is around $45 a side at salvo auto, about $150 from the dealer.