What are worn ball joints on Mercury Sable?

What are worn ball joints on Mercury Sable?

Worn ball joints on a Mercury Sable have several indicators. They cause a shaking in the steering wheel when encountering rough road surface, severe wear on the front tires and a knocking noise over bumps in the road. They are used on the lower control arm to secure the spindle to the arm and allow the spindle to turn or swivel.

Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake?

In the first video, there is not only bad shaking from an unbalanced tire, but also a wheel-bearing noise that is louder when the steering wheel is turned to one side. In the second, the car shakes hard when the brakes are applied; the problem is with the brake rotors.

Why does my front wheel vibration not go away?

Check the inside of the rim, too. You may not feel free play in a front wheel (front- or rear-drive), but try rocking it in and out with a bit more effort, but not enough to move the steering linkage. That could demonstrate free play from wear in the tie-rod ends or ball joints.

Is it safe to drive a car with a shaking steering wheel?

While a vibration is not usually a safety issue unless it becomes very bad, a shaking car is no fun to drive. Furthermore, it can be frustrating to diagnose which of the many complex components that govern the car’s contact with the road is causing the steering wheel shimmy.

Worn ball joints on a Mercury Sable have several indicators. They cause a shaking in the steering wheel when encountering rough road surface, severe wear on the front tires and a knocking noise over bumps in the road. They are used on the lower control arm to secure the spindle to the arm and allow the spindle to turn or swivel.

What’s the best price for a Mercury Sable?

To get the best deal for your Sable, be sure to take a look at the Fair Purchase Price to see what consumers in your area are currently paying. As for resale, Kelley Blue Book projects that over time the Sable will hold an average resale value, better than the Buick LaCrosse and the Chrysler 300, but lower than the Toyota Avalon.

When did the Mercury Sable go out of production?

Mercury Sable. Due to low sales, the Mercury Sable ended production during the 2009 model year, with the final vehicle produced on May 21, 2009. Although the Ford Taurus remains in production (as of the 2018 model year), the closure of the Mercury brand left the full-size Sable without a direct successor.

Is the Mercury Sable the same as the Ford Taurus?

For its entire production life, the Sable served as the Mercury counterpart of the Ford Taurus (no Sable equivalent of the Taurus SHO was ever produced), slotted below the Grand Marquis.

How do you replace ball joint on McPherson strut?

Leave the castellated nut in place, just a few turns in to keep it in a safe place. If you’re working on a McPherson strut suspension remove the “pinch bolt” that clamps the ball joint stud. Pop loose the ball joint.

How do you remove a ball joint from a front suspension?

Place the remover in between the lower part of the spindle and the lower control arm. Strike it hard with the hammer and the ball joint will pop out of its tapered hole in the spindle. On a strut type of front suspension, it is safe to remove the lower ball joint without supporting the arm because there is no spring tension on the arm.

Do you need wheel alignment after replacing ball joints?

Always have a wheel alignment performed after replacing ball joints. Getting an alignment will ensure that all suspension and steering components are at the correct manufacturer’s specified angles for proper performance and prevent your tires from wearing prematurely. Thanks! This article was co-authored by Mike Parra.

Place the remover in between the lower part of the spindle and the lower control arm. Strike it hard with the hammer and the ball joint will pop out of its tapered hole in the spindle. On a strut type of front suspension, it is safe to remove the lower ball joint without supporting the arm because there is no spring tension on the arm.

Where are the ball joints on a car?

They are used on the lower control arm to secure the spindle to the arm and allow the spindle to turn or swivel. An extremely worn ball joint can obviously cause a catastrophic incident where it separates and causes a total loss of control of the vehicle.

How many miles does a 2002 Mercury Sable drive?

1st owner drove an estimated 1,445 miles/year • 2nd owner drove an estimated 4,897 miles/year • 3rd owner drove an estimated 7,078 miles/year • 4th owner drove an estimated 0 miles/year • 5th owner drove an estimated 0 miles/year • 6th owner drove an estimated 0 miles/year.

Is it safe to remove the lower ball joint?

On a strut type of front suspension, it is safe to remove the lower ball joint without supporting the arm because there is no spring tension on the arm. Once the ball joint is loose, push the lower arm down and with the other hand swing the spindle off of the ball joint and let the spindle sit to the side of the lower arm.

How do you replace a Ford rear shock absorber?

On some Ford products there’s an external motor drive, and you can unplug it from the old shock and install it on the new one. In most other cases, you get a choice of shock absorber designs. If the shock rod spins endlessly as you try to remove the upper mount, try Vise-Grips on the flatted end of the rod.

What causes rear shock absorber to tear loose?

If you can turn the mounting nut or bolt at the top or bottom without much effort, the mounting is loose. On some shocks there’s a stud in a rubber bushing, and if it tears loose, you’ll see and feel it turn as you try to tighten the nut.

How do you remove studs from a shock mount?

When you get the nuts off a stud mounting, you still have to pry off the shock, working evenly at top and bottom so it doesn’t cock. If you’re not sure of the condition of a bone-dry shock, just disconnect it from the bottom mount if possible (or remove it completely if it’s on studs).

How do you remove a bolt from a Mercury Sable?

Use a wrench—this bolt is normally 10mm on all model years of the Mercury Sable. Remove the two large bolts and nuts using an 18mm socket and the air gun. Remove the bolts by hand and separate the strut from the spindle by pushing them apart. Remove the three 13mm nuts on the top of the fender well under the hood.

How do you remove brake line from Mercury Sable?

Lift the hood of the vehicle. Remove the brake line where it is attached to the lower part of the strut. Use a wrench—this bolt is normally 10mm on all model years of the Mercury Sable. Remove the two large bolts and nuts using an 18mm socket and the air gun. Remove the bolts by hand and separate the strut from the spindle by pushing them apart.

What is the strut on a Mercury Sable?

A Mercury Sable strut supports the vehicle through the spring incorporated in the strut, supports the upper arm of the spindle, acts as a shock, and is an integral part of the steering with the top bearing plate. Severe or abnormal bouncing when driving on uneven or rough roads indicate worn struts, and can cause several handling problems.

They are used on the lower control arm to secure the spindle to the arm and allow the spindle to turn or swivel. An extremely worn ball joint can obviously cause a catastrophic incident where it separates and causes a total loss of control of the vehicle.

How do you tighten a ball joint on a golf ball?

Push down on the lower control arm with one hand and place the spindle over the ball joint with the other. Let go of the lower arm and push the ball joint stud back into the lower hole in the spindle. Install the nut on the ball joint and tighten.

How do you install a lower ball joint?

Place the floor jack under the lower control arm as close to the ball joint as possible without interfering with its removal. Strike the ball joint stud with one good blow with a hammer and the ball joint will come out downward. Install the lower ball joint using the ball joint installer kit.

How do you separate a ball joint from a spindle?

Separate the ball joint from the spindle using the ball joint separator. It looks like a big fork with just two teeth. Place the remover in between the lower part of the spindle and the lower control arm. Strike it hard with the hammer and the ball joint will pop out of its tapered hole in the spindle.

Separate the ball joint from the spindle using the ball joint separator. It looks like a big fork with just two teeth. Place the remover in between the lower part of the spindle and the lower control arm. Strike it hard with the hammer and the ball joint will pop out of its tapered hole in the spindle.