Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Ball Joint can be found in Parts Matter.
The front suspension of your vehicle is amazing.A complex assembly of control links and wheel hubs, the front suspension, allows your front wheels to move up and down independently of one another to give you a smooth ride, and it also makes both wheels turn left or right together so that you can make your vehicle go where you need to go
Although there are different types of front suspensions, they all share one thing in common: the ball joint.The consequences of a ball joint failing can be dire.There are signs and symptoms of a failing ball joint.
Today's vehicles have a front suspension system that uses upper and lower control arms to attach the wheel hub to your vehicle, or you can use a MacPherson strut and one control arm.The wheel hubs, on which your wheels and tires are mounted, are attached to the outer ends of the control arms and are generally vertical as they move up and down.The hubs are connected to your steering system and must be able to pivot left and right at any point in their movement.
The control arms are connected to the ball joints.They give you a safe, smooth ride and allow you to precisely control your vehicle by providing universal pivoting movement between the wheel hubs and control arms.
Ball joints do not last forever.Your driving habits, road conditions and exposure to road splash and salt will affect their lifespan.As the ball and sockets wear together, the normally close tolerance between them will increase and the joint will become loose over time.
A faint, intermittent clunking noise that seems to be coming from a corner of your vehicle is usually the first indication of worn or loose ball joints.The sound may be more pronounced when going over a bump or a dip.As time goes on and the wear continues, the sound will become louder and more frequent.
Steering can be affected by worn ball joints, which can cause the steering to be sloppy or stiff.Ball joint wear can be seen if you feel a vibration in the steering wheel while driving down a level, straight road, or your vehicle drifting to the right or left when going over bumps.
Ball joints are wearing out and even tire wear may be a sign.If the inner or outer edges of your front tires are wearing out faster than the rest of the tread, there is a good chance that the cause is worn ball joints.The problem is not ball joints, but under-inflation of your tires, if both edges are wearing out faster than the middle.
Ball joints with built-in wear indicators can be used to help diagnose loose ball joints.Wear indicators have a grease fitting.The ball joint should be replaced when the grease fitting is flush with the bottom of the housing.
The wear indicator pin is in the bottom of the ball joint.The ball joint is okay if the pin is visible.The ball joint should be replaced when it becomes flush with the housing.
A catastrophic failure of the ball joint will cause your front suspension to come apart and cause you to lose control of your vehicle.If you suspect worn ball joints, you should have your vehicle checked by a mechanic who knows how to diagnose and fix suspension issues.
Find a local car repair shop or learn more about quality steering and suspension parts.