You don’t have to be knowledgeable about cars to know that the front wheels do quite a lot of work. They are the ones that make steering possible. In many vehicles, the front wheels also put power to the ground. So they help steer and drive a vehicle, but that’s not all. The front wheels also have to take care of suspension duties at the same time.
These wheels move side to side and up and down while also being under load. Suspension systems can be fairly complicated and the best way to understand them is by breaking down the role of each part. The focus of this piece will be ball joints. This essential suspension component can be found on just about any car out there. Join us as we go over the purpose of ball joints, signs of bad ball joints, and more!
What are Ball Joints, and How Do They Work?
Ball joints are part of the suspension in most cars on the road today. While the ball joint itself is not highly complicated, it serves a rather important role. Ball joints are suspension components that act as a pivot point. It’s this part that sits between the control arms and the knuckles.
The ball joint helps these parts work together in ways that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. As mentioned earlier, a lot is going on behind the front wheels and the ball joints work in harmony with several other parts to keep things under control.
Anatomy of a Ball Joint
To better understand a ball joint, let’s take a look at its anatomy. Oftentimes, car parts have quite descriptive names and a ball joint certainly falls under that category. Similar to the joints in our hips, the ball joint allows the control arm to utilize a wide range of motion. A ball joint consists of several key parts. These include:
- Ball stud
- Bearing/Socket
- Dust cover
- Castle nut
The ball stud sits in the socket, usually covered with a healthy amount of grease. Both the ball stud and the bearing/socket are designed to eliminate friction as much as possible. Grease is there to further help with that.
The dust cover comes in the form of a rubber boot, and it’s an essential part of this puzzle. This boot makes sure the lubricating grease stays on the inside, while debris and other contaminants stay on the outside. The only way for a ball joint to do its job properly is if the dust cover stays intact.
Serviceable Ball Joint VS Non-Serviceable Ball Joints
While the boots do a good job at keeping the contaminants out, they don’t last forever. The location of the ball joint makes it highly exposed to the elements. Furthermore, it’s constantly under use and not something that faces occasional wear. In short, ball joints, especially the rubber bits, have a limited service life and need fixing or replacing when worn out.
The most common practice and the one that’s recommended is replacing it. While it might be more expensive than repairing a ball joint, it will likely end up saving you money and trouble in the long run. This is because a new replacement unit will be fresh. With serviceable ball joints, you run the risk of having contaminants in places you shouldn’t.
This can occur if there are inconsistencies in the rebuild procedure. Even if the water and dirt have been cleaned, there can be remains of salt that can go unnoticed. If the serviceable ball joint has undergone a rebuild and still has some contaminants it can result in accelerated wear which in turn would have made a new replacement unit the smarter choice. That said, if the rebuild is carried out correctly on a serviceable unit, it can turn out to be cost-effective.
Signs of Bad Ball Joints — Setting the Diagnosis
Once you notice that your ball joints are on their way out, there are a few ways you can pinpoint the issue. The best way is by raising the vehicle and visually inspecting the ball joints to make sure there isn’t excessive movement or signs of wear.
Alternatively, you can raise the front end and do a hands-on test. This involves grabbing the suspected wheel at the 12 and 6 o’clock position and shaking the wheel back and forth. Any resulting play in the suspension and unusual sounds are all signs of bad ball joints
It’s a good idea to inspect the suspension components every 25,000 miles. The service life of these parts varies significantly as it’s dependent on many conditions. That being said, it’s also recommended to inspect them if you notice any of the following..
Common Signs of Bad Ball Joints
Here are the most common signs of bad ball joints. While these are symptoms of a ball joint problem, they could also be caused by another suspension-related part that’s reached the end of its life.
Clunking
First on the list of common signs of bad ball joints is clunking. This sound is most commonly associated with signs of bad ball joints and for good reason. Reports suggest that a clunking sound from the suspension almost always has to do with bad ball joints.
If you are wondering what causes this sound, it’s the ball joint itself. As it wears out, it becomes loose in the socket. When you take a turn or run over a bump, that play will cause a clunking sound. Another tell-tale is if the clunking sound becomes more pronounced on bad roads.
Vibration
One of the most common signs of bad ball joints is vibration. In some instances, these vibrations can be felt through the steering wheel or from the side of the failing part. What will make it quite discernible is the origin of the vibrations. It will come from the suspension.
Something else to keep in mind is that it will continue to be felt at varying speeds. As you expect, it’s not advisable to continue driving with vibrations like these for too long, and we recommend getting it sorted before it begins damaging other parts.
Uneven Tire Wear
If you don’t notice any vibrations or clunking, one you may notice is uneven tire wear. It’s always a good idea to inspect your tires from time to time even if you’ve installed them only recently. The tires on your car are the only point of contact between the car and the road which is why it’s a great idea to keep them in the best shape.
If you have a ball joint that has failed, it can cause the inside or the outside to wear unevenly. This wear won’t correspond with the wear on the other areas of the tire making the problem quite clear.
Vague Steering
Last on the list of signs of bad ball joints is vague steering. What this means is that the steering can have a mind of its own and pull the car towards the right or left.
While this could be down to other failing suspension components or even a bad alignment, it’s also a sign of a bad ball joint. If you notice this problem or any of the ones mentioned above, get it replaced as soon as possible as it will get worse over time.
What Does a Ball Joint Sound Like When It Is Bad?
One of the best ways to identify signs of bad ball joints is by the sound they make. As mentioned earlier, it can make a clunking noise. This noise can also be described as a knocking sound.
More importantly, the best way to identify the sound associated with a bad ball joint is by driving on a bumpy road. Going in a pothole or speed breaker at a slightly higher speed than you normally will make the clunking sound more pronounced.
What Causes Ball Joints to Fail?
While all the information we’ve been sharing about bad ball joints may lead you to believe that it’s a part that fails often, it’s quite the contrary. This component is known to have an extended lifespan despite its heavy usage. That being said, they will wear out eventually. Ball joint failure depends on several factors – including the usage pattern, mileage, and conditions.
As mentioned earlier, there are many factors that cause ball joints to fail. For example, a car being driven on bad roads regularly is likely to have its ball joints wear out sooner. Similarly, bad roads would also mean increased dirt and abrasion which are other factors that can cause ball joints to fail. Given that the boot on the ball joint is made out of rubber, extreme weather conditions can also affect the service life of the ball joints.
Can You Drive with Bad Ball Joints?
If you have just started experiencing one of the signs of bad ball joints, you could get away by driving it for a few more days while you wait to get them replaced. That being said, we do not recommend driving it if any of the common signs of bad ball joints mentioned above are severe.
There is a possibility of increased wear causing the ball stud to separate from the joint which could have severe consequences, especially if you are driving on a busy road. This is why it’s best to get them replaced as soon as you notice one of the signs. We also highly recommend replacing both at the same time as they have a similar amount of wear.
Are You Noticing Signs of Bad Ball Joints?
There’s no need to worry if you have just started noticing signs of bad ball joints as we are here to help. We stock OEM-quality parts for cars from all over the world. If you need ball joints, we probably have them in stock and ready to ship. Head over to the Shop at Newparts.com and find replacement ball joints now!
