What happens when the ball joints go out?
The worst-case scenario is the coming apart of the ball joints followed by the breakage. To begin with, damaged ball joints compromise the wheel motion. It is a serious issue since it can have dire side effects on other components of the front suspension.
When is the best time to replace ball joints?
Shops will generally recommend that both or all ball joints be replaced at the time the car is there because if one has failed, the chances are the others will fail soon. This is a valuable practice that even a DIYer should follow, even though it doubles the work.
Why do you need ball joints in front of your car?
The front ball joints also allow the front wheels and suspension to move back and forth, as well as up and down, as the steering wheel is turned during driving and as the car moves over uneven road surfaces. Modern ball joints aren’t serviceable, and many last the lifespan of your car.
Why is steering worse now with new ball joints than before?
One wheel was very difficult so I replaced those ball joints again on that side only and did not get it realigned. The steering is not as stiff as it was but the wheel still does not track back to center after a turn and doesn’t always track straight on the highway.
What happens when a front ball joint fails?
Should a ball joint break, the wheel becomes totally free to move in any direction, which can damage the car’s fender, tire, and several suspension components, if not more. Usually, when front ball joints start to fail, the vehicle will display a few symptoms that alert the driver a problem has occurred.
Shops will generally recommend that both or all ball joints be replaced at the time the car is there because if one has failed, the chances are the others will fail soon. This is a valuable practice that even a DIYer should follow, even though it doubles the work.
What do ball joints do in a car?
What do ball joints do? Ball joints are a component of the front suspension of a car. The front suspension is a complex assembly of links, joints, bushings and bearings that allow your front wheels to move up and down independently and turn left or right together.
When did GM replace the ball joint on my truck?
My 97 C1500 with 226,000 miles still has its original lower ball joint on the drivers side. Why would all 4 god bad at the same time? The lower ball joint on the passengers side was just replaced a few months ago at 225,000 miles. It to was the original that came on the truck in 1997.