I have an 06 Touring. I was thinking of getting a shop to replace my lower front ball joints since I am lazy. The shop I called said it would be $800 because they have to replace the control arms in order to replace the ball joints, as well as giving it an alignment. I think they are full of bs. Are they correct? Can't they just replace the ball joints without having to replace the control arm?

 

You can but it's like $25 for a ball joint and $50 for the rearward lower control arm with the ball joint already in it

 

You got the suspension mixed up, the ball joint is pressed into the spindle/knuckle. The control arm has 2 bushings and a hole for the ball joint stud.
Anyway, is that price labor only or everything?
if it were me, you are going to have to align for everything you do, so might as well do ball joints, tie rods, control arms and compression rods all at the same time, the labor difference should be minimal and the the car would be set for a while.

 

Oh, I was thinking of the ball join on the rear arms. Either way it can be pressed out/in

 

I've done ball joints on the lower control arms 3 times. It's a god awful job pressing out old and pressing in new ones. I say buy the control arm pre pressed. It'll save you hours.

 

I replaced the control arms for the very reason you mention.