The lower ball joint is the load-carrying joint in this type of suspension, while the upper ball joint is the “follower,” with no significant load to support. It acts only as a second pivot point for the steering knuckle.

Some ball joints should have NO visible play while others can handle up to . 250 inch or more of play and still be considered okay. On an upper/lower control arm suspension (SLA suspension) where the spring seats on the lower control arm, the LOWER ball joint carries the load and is the one most likely to be worn.

Loaded Joint: To check a loaded ball joint, place a jack or jack stand under the lower control arm to support the weight of the vehicle. Attach a dial indicator to the lower control arm and locate the dial in a vertical position to measure axial runout at the steering knuckle.

Here are the important symptoms to watch out for with bad ball joints:

1. Excessive Tire Wear.
2. Steering Wanders From Side To Side.
3. Vibrating & Shaking.
4. Squeaking & Clunking Noises. If only the joints in our bodies announced their problems so audibly (and were so easily replaced) as the ones in our cars!

No, you certainly don’t need alignment after ball joints, unless your previous alignment was done when ball joints were bad and loose. If your car is driving sloppy after ball joints replacement, check other suspension parts.

Feeling 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 may also be signs of ball joint wear. Tires – Uneven tire wear may be a sign that your ball joints are wearing out.

Metallic clunking noise: One of the most noticeable and common symptoms of a bad ball joint is a clunking or knocking noise when the suspension moves up and down. A worn ball joint will begin to rattle inside the socket when driving over an uneven road, rough terrain, potholes or speed bumps.

Can you drive with bad bushings? Symptoms of worn bushings are clunking or scraping noises, uneven tire wear, and reduced handling and braking response. In the worst case scenario when bushings completely fail, suspension and steering parts will have metal-to-metal contact that can cause damage or bending.

Worn control arm bushings or ball joints can cause a clunking noise that’s heard while traveling over bumps. In some instances, faulty control arm bushings may make a banging or clunking noise under hard acceleration or braking as well.

Here are the most common symptoms of bad control arm bushings and ball joints:

1. Clunking Noise. Specifically coming from the control arm and usually following a bump, braking, or a hard turn.
2. Steering Wander. Pulling to the left or right without input from the steering wheel.
3. Un-Even Tire Wear.
4. Vibration.

The Most Common Worn Bushings Symptoms

• The vehicle makes rattling noises when driven over gravelly roads.
• The vehicle sounds as though it is clunking when you make sharp turns or hit the brakes.
• The vehicle feels as though it is trembling along the front portion.
• The steering seems more difficult to handle.

Any time you get work done on the suspension, especially major work like a control arm, an alignment is required. If not you will have uneven tire wear at best, at worst it will become unstable under braking.

They could be ok for 30 days or more but may be unsafe to leave the parking lot. While control arms get noisier with worn bushings it also allows more loose play in the suspension to wear other parts out. Just get it fixed. It will save you money in the long run.

These assemblies normally wear out between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. They can wear out faster if you go over a large pothole or are involved in a car accident. Various parts of the assembly may wear out as well, such as the bushings or ball joints.

Driving With Broken Control Arms: What Can Happen In extreme cases, driving with bad control arms could lead to loss of control or inability to steer due to the wheel and tire assembly moving outward from the vehicle. If the ball joints break, the wheels could also fall off.

The control arm should be repaired or replaced as soon as there’s any sign of damage, and control arm replacements costs are typically $117 – $306 for the majority of vehicles. The part itself will normally cost between $42 – $103, with labor time usually an hour or two.

The average cost for control arm replacement is between $747 and $856. Labor costs are estimated between $152 and $192 while parts are priced between $595 and $664. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your unique location.

Many technicians recommend replacing both joints at the same time (both lowers, both uppers or all four). Another item that should be checked when ball joints are replaced is the stud hole in the steering knuckle — especially if the ball joint stud has broken or is loose.

The ball joint is a small part of your car, and the part itself is only going to cost between $20-$150 or more, depending on where you get it from and what kind of vehicle you own. It can take a little over an hour to get it replaced, so the full ball joint replacement cost will be between $100 and $400.

Can You Replace Your Ball Joint? If you feel comfortable doing your own car maintenance, you can replace ball joints yourself. This can be accomplished using a tool called a ball joint press (Available through Loan-A-Tool).

Because the ball joint can move in two different directions at once, the suspension can, too. Depending on the type of vehicle and suspension in question, there may possibly be an upper and a lower ball joint. The lower ball joint usually takes the biggest hits and wears out first.

Ball joints allow you to steer smoothly and are constantly moving so throwing a little lubrication their way is a small favor for the big job that they do every day. The rule of thumb is to grease these parts every, or every other, oil change which might seem excessive, but again; little thanks, big job.

DID YOU KNOW? It is vital to torque ball joint stud nuts to proper specifications. Improper torquing will cause looseness that may eventually cause joint stud breakage and damage to the steering knuckle.

Usually the joints will come with enough grease for assembly, but not enough for long term use. This is to keep the parts from metal on metal friction, but not to spill grease out making a mess. Also, if they have a zerk, this means that they are not sealed and will need to be greased at an interval.

lithium synthetic grease