How do you test a ball joint for a control arm?
To check a ball joint for axial (vertical) play, leave your vehicle on stands and place a pry bar or 2×4 under the tire and gently lever the wheel up and down. If the ball joint displays a lot of movement then you are likely outside of the manufacturer’s specs and the ball joint needs to be replaced.
Do you need to replace lower control arm bushings?
If you own a vehicle long enough you will likely need to replace the lower control arm ball joint and bushings, but you can take steps to lengthen the life of the ball joints.
Where are the bushings and ball joints on a car?
They are typically equipped with bushings on the frame side of the vehicle and a ball joint on the wheel side of the vehicle that allow flex and controlled movement according to road conditions and steering input from the driver. Control arms allow wheels to move up and down while preventing forward and rearward movement.
When to look for movement in the ball joint?
If you don’t see any movement out of the ball joint, you’ll need to check the bushings at the base of the control arm. You are looking for major cracking or missing rubber in the bushing. More than likely you won’t see movement out of this area, but you may see that it is displaced.
Why are control arms, bushings, and ball joints important?
Control arms, bushings, and ball joints may not be common household terms for many vehicle owners. You may have never even heard of them, but they are critical components of your vehicle’s suspension system that allow your tires to smoothly go up and down in a controlled fashion. Without them, your ride probably wouldn’t be very enjoyable.
If you own a vehicle long enough you will likely need to replace the lower control arm ball joint and bushings, but you can take steps to lengthen the life of the ball joints.
What does control arm and ball joint assembly do?
Filter your results by entering your Year, Make, Model to ensure you find the parts that fit your vehicle. A control arm and ball joint assembly contains a control arm, ball joint, and bushings and are essential components for suspension and steering. Control arms allow wheels to move up and down while preventing forward and rearward movement.
They are typically equipped with bushings on the frame side of the vehicle and a ball joint on the wheel side of the vehicle that allow flex and controlled movement according to road conditions and steering input from the driver. Control arms allow wheels to move up and down while preventing forward and rearward movement.
If you don’t see any movement out of the ball joint, you’ll need to check the bushings at the base of the control arm. You are looking for major cracking or missing rubber in the bushing. More than likely you won’t see movement out of this area, but you may see that it is displaced.