What do you do with a loose ball joint?
Ball joints equipped with a taper are typically used on tie rods and the connection between the control arm and steering knuckle. Once that taper on a ball joint breaks loose, it’s free so there is no struggle such as what you may find with a slide in cylinder shaped object.
What happens when you break a ball joint?
Once that taper on a ball joint breaks loose, it’s free so there is no struggle such as what you may find with a slide in cylinder shaped object. This remove process is recommended when you’re not reusing the ball joints as you can damage the threads on the stud.
How do you remove a ball joint from a car?
The most difficult part of removing any ball joint is disconnecting the taper fit stud at the end of the joint. Some ball joints are made into the lower or upper control arm while in other applications the joint can be unbolted separately. It is strongly suggested to have the car aligned after replacing a ball joint. What Goes Wrong?
How much does it cost to replace a ball joint?
If the ball joint is not serviced separately and is included in the control arm you can expect to pay between $46.00 and $92.00 for each arm. The labor to replace a ball joint with the control arm will be between $120.00 and $180.00 depending on the manufacturer.
Ball joints equipped with a taper are typically used on tie rods and the connection between the control arm and steering knuckle. Once that taper on a ball joint breaks loose, it’s free so there is no struggle such as what you may find with a slide in cylinder shaped object.
Can a ball joint be removed from a steering knuckle?
In most cases, a ball joint press and ball joint fork will be needed to remove the ball joint and separate the control arm from the steering knuckle, which both of these are available for free through AutoZone’s Loan-A-Tool program. For ball joints that are bolted on, simply unbolting the bolts will separate the joint from the control arm.
How do you replace a ball joint on a truck?
Trucks and some cars – separate the steering knuckle from the ball joints with a ball joint fork and set aside. This process usually requires a lot of force and a BIG hammer! Carefully inspect and remove any snap rings that may be securing the ball joint in place. Using a ball joint press, press the old joint out of the control arm.
Can a ball joint be removed from a control arm?
For ball joints that are bolted on, simply unbolting the bolts will separate the joint from the control arm. Some ball joints have factory hot-rivets to secure them to the Control Arm.