if im buying this from a guy and hes asking $850 for it and the trans was replaced at 150.XXX and all ii gota do is fi the allignment is that a good deal for a 97 ford explorer XLT 4door awd

that is very cheap for a 97 Explorer. Usually in the $3500 range. I'd take it to a good mechanic and have it gone over first. Pre-purchase Inspection usually runs $75-100. Worth it. When you get near 200k, you'll start replacing wheel bearings, carrier bearings in differentials, etc. Original engine, rebuilt? check front axles, u-joints, brakes, the usual...

Check out the carguru recommended repair facilities to go over the car before you buy. If there are no problems, you have a good deal.

I've purchased four explorere (new) between 95 and 2003. I've worked on all of them and here is what you want to look at first. I've rebuilt the front end on all the explorere except the 2003. The ball joints are probably bad if never serviced before. The joints are made onto the control arms, so they are not serviceable, the control arms will have to be replaced. The front end on the 97 is the same as the 96 and 99. Rebuilding the entire suspension yourself will cost about 600 in parts for both sides and take about a day. It's doable if you have some basic skills, and no exotic tools are needed. You will have to have the front end aligned when complete.

And while you're at it, you might as well change the front brakes and check the roters. They have to come off when redoing the front end.