What happens if you have bad ball joints in your car?
Ball joints play a major role in the steering and suspension of cars and can last a long time. However, driving on bad ball joints can cause major damage and total ball joint failure can be fatal. If you’re unsure about the condition of the ball joints in a car, then speak to a garage about good quality replacements.
When do ball joints need to be replaced?
The ball joint connects the control arms to the steering knuckles on either side of the vehicle. Ball joints do go bad over time and must be replaced; otherwise, there may be safety issues.
What happens to your steering wheel when you wear a ball joint?
Steering – Worn ball joints can affect your vehicle’s steering, usually making the steering sloppy or stiff depending on how the ball joint is wearing. 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.
How can you tell if your ball joints are worn out?
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.
What will happen if you drive your car with bad ball joints?
By far the worst that can happen, when driving on a bad ball joint, is breakage. The ball joint can break in two ways: the ball detaching from the socket and stud breakage. No matter the form of breakage, the end result is catastrophic. When the ball joint completely breaks, the wheel is free to move in any direction.
How long can you Drive on bad lower ball joints?
Generally speaking, you should expect to have to have your ball joints replaced between 70,000 to 150,000 miles of driving. Excessive play in the joint can cause additional wear, and if a ball joint fails, your car’s suspension could collapse and you could lose control of the vehicle.
How do I tell if my ball joints are bad?
Uneven wear of the tires. Uneven wear of your tires can be an important sign of bad ball joints. If the inner or outer edges of your car’s front tires wear faster than the remaining tire tread, then you can take it as a sure sign of bad ball joints. If both the edges are wearing at an equal rate, then problem is probably not with the ball joints,…
How can you tell if ball joints are bad?
When your ball joints go bad you will hear a clunking or knocking noise when you hit bumps or especially when turning. They can cause loose steering and misalignment. They can also cause a what is known as a “death wobble”.