@Tahoe5509327 I have to agree that the estimate you were given is not at all competitive with industry-wide pricing. On-par with dealer service and over-priced OEM replacement parts, catering to the uninformed individuals and corporate fleets.
unless this were a trusted business that you are familiar with, consider using internet resources to consult with 1 or 2 independents possessing a solid rating & satisfied customers. When using Google maps to search in my general location, I always check the reviews before further research on any 1 business. I have also used 'Yelp' in the past when verifying customer satisfaction with a given company.
I am personally very wary of auto repair facilities which is why I began collecting tools and technical resources several years back to DIY all auto repairs but I understand many people must utilize auto services sector.
I can only suggest researching the issue further if you want to be economical with your spending. We would be happy to help you with this and the whole direction as it somewhat involved.
I can tell you that front end noises & drivability issues diagnosed as faulty ball joints and tie-rods or hub bearing should be addressed promptly, especially in regard to protecting the tires as the failure of these parts will accelerate uneven wear patterns and negative consequences such as vibration & wandering even after the serviceable parts have been replaced.
Shocks & struts are very important not only to comfort but driveability & handling, too. Most consumers overlook the shocks or disregard its importance but its role applies to every single aspect of suspension & steering performance. Left unserviced, the harshness of the road degrades driver patience & comfort, wears on the tires, and compromises the frame and control arm interfaces. Somebody on a different forum posted a picture of the actual steel chassis ripped/elongated/bored-out due to excessive forces created on the vehicle from a faulty shock. Not good.
Safety is a major factor in your situation as well. A ball joint, wheel hub or tie rod can fail ultimately & completely. The devastation in a situation like this will really ruin your day. Not only that but risk to the general public comes into play when a failure occurs & you lose control of the vehicle. It can happen on the highway or turning out of WalMart, the front wheel seperates from the axle shaft, steering linkage or the knuckle ass'y, whereby your truck is made an uncontrollable weapon.
Finally, the oil seal is the least important. Keeping with the price point of your initial estimate, I would value the main seal replacement at the same place somewhere around $500. It doesn't sound like much & the replacement seal itself only costs $10 but the labor is intensive. The consequences of forgoing this service is a puddle of oil on your driveway and the need for checking the engine oil level more frequently. Some owners have neglected the rear main seal for years & even indefinitely because of the labor/down-time, but the motor oil level is more closely monitored as it is constantly being lost via the compromised seal. If you are the type who never opens the hood, this can be a problem as vigilance is required since the oil leak only worsens with time.
Keeping with the theme and position of other members, I would purchase the replacement parts and then have an independent garage perform the actual labor. It's still not the most cost-effective method, but I don't think that's what you are about. At least if you personally bought the parts, you know what is on the truck & you aren't getting double-billed on replacement parts. Any garage can order cheaply manufactured, bottom-$$ parts and then bill you for genuine/OEM. Been there done that. In your specific case, the level and sheer volume of parts/work called-for necessitates a level of detail/research unsurpassed by few things in that ultimately the benefits equal or outweigh the cost. I don't envy you, but with becoming more knowledgeable and informed, your choices will dictate wether repairs last the life of the vehicle and you are being treated fairly. Like I said, we can help if you are interested.
