Having a reliable car is essential, especially when it comes to daily commutes and long road trips. One of the components required for handling and safety while driving is the ball joint. This part reflects on how well your suspension system works as well as your car’s overall stability.
However, over time, due to regular use and wear and tear, ball joints can weaken or break entirely if not serviced in time. It often results in dangerous deteriorations of controlled motion and turning capability while you’re behind the wheel.
The cost of replacing a ball joint could be under $20 each or more than $400 if it’s part of a control arm. You’ll need to account for a couple of hours of labor if you have a pro do the repair, not to mention an alignment.
In this post, we’ll share signs of bad ball joints to help you identify any impending issues so you can make necessary repairs before further damage occurs.
What’s A Ball Joint? A Quick Refresher
Before we go any further, let’s take a quick look at what a ball joint is.
A ball joint is usually a ball-in-socket design, lubricated with grease and covered with a dust boot. Modern ball joints are sealed, and while this prevents dirt, grit, and other impurities from damaging the joint, it also prevents maintenance.
This means that if you have a problem with your ball joint, the entire assembly will usually need to be replaced.
Depending on the type of suspension, most cars have both upper and lower ball joints. The lower ball joints are usually larger and wear out faster due to the weight of the front of a car that rests on them.
There are a number of signs that let you know that your ball joints may be starting to wear out.
Symptoms of a Bad Ball Joint
Ball joints are known to wear out, although it’s usually over the course of 70,000 miles or more. Sometimes it’s even twice that long. But when there’s a problem with a ball joint, you’ll see signs well before it completely fails and separates.
#1. Excessive Vibration.
Bad ball joints may be loose and allow the suspension to rattle around a bit as you drive. With enough speed, this can cause a vibrating or rumbling sensation in the cabin.
Similar vibrations can be caused by other suspension parts and even unbalanced wheels, axles and driveshafts.
However, a ball joint is much more likely to wear out during normal driving than a driveshaft or major suspension linkage. Ball joints are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.
#2. Steering Wander.
Another common symptom of bad ball joints is steering wander. Because a worn ball joint creates a loose point in the vehicle’s suspension system, the whole feel of the vehicle could be affected.
If you find the vehicle wanders about in your lane as you drive, is difficult to track straight or simply feels disconnected from steering inputs, one possible cause is worn-out ball joints.
Similar symptoms can also be caused by bad tie-rod ends, poor front-end alignment and more, but checking the ball joints are certainly a good place to begin diagnosing this problem.
#3. Squeaking or Creaking Noises.
If you hear squeaking or creaking noises in your car, it’s likely that something is wrong. These sounds could be an indication that your car’s ball joints are wearing out.
When ball joints wear out, they may produce squeaky or creaky sounds, which may be more noticeable when driving slowly, turning corners, or driving over speed bumps.
#4. Uneven Tire Wear.
One of the main causes of uneven tire wear due to faulty ball joints is the misalignment of the wheels. When the ball joints are worn out, they can no longer hold the suspension and wheels in their proper positions.
This misalignment can lead to uneven weight distribution on the tires, causing certain areas to bear more pressure than others. Over time, this imbalance can result in wearing down the tread on the tires unevenly, leading to bald spots or unusual wear patterns.
#5. Clunking or Knocking Sensation.
When driving over bumps or rough road surfaces, you may notice a clunking or knocking sensation. This might happen because of worn-out ball joints that allow the control arms to move out of their intended range of motion as your car’s suspension moves.
Consequently, this misalignment can result in the clunking or knocking sensation that you feel through the floor of your car.
#6. Damaged Suspension Parts.
While certain symptoms may only be noticeable while driving, the final indicator requires you to examine the underside of your car.
Scratches or rust on suspension components means contact with rough road surfaces, particularly when navigating speed bumps. Although these marks can result from accidents, they may also suggest wear and tear in your car’s ball joints.
Causes of a Bad Ball Joint
Although ball joint or control arm replacement is inevitable, there are some common causes.
- Excessive Wear. Over time, ball joints can wear down due to frequent use and friction. This can cause the joint to become loose, leading to metal-on-metal contact in the socket which eventually causes it to fail.
- Lack of Lubrication. Ball joints require lubrication in order to stay in good working condition and prevent excessive wear. If they are not properly lubricated, they can suffer from premature wear and tear.
- Damaged Components. If any of the components that make up the ball joint are damaged or broken, it can lead to a bad ball joint. This could be anything from a bent control arm or damaged suspension bushings.
- Rust or Corrosion. Any rust or corrosion that gets into the socket, like if the boot is torn and the grease has leaked out, can contribute to failure.
How to Test a Bad Ball Joint?
All ball joints are located in the chassis of the car, and inspecting them without tools can be challenging. However, there are several commonly used methods for checking bad ball joints.
Visual Inspection
Lift the vehicle and visually examine the ball joints for obvious deterioration or cracks. Check for external factors such as dust boot condition, dust cover, oil leakage, rust, foreign objects, etc.
Shake Test
Hold and shake the control arm with both hands or tools to check for any unusual sounds or looseness. If uncertain, perform a side-by-side comparison using the left and right wheels.
Alternatively, directly test the ball joint by moving it back and forth and from side to side, checking for any specific angles that feel excessively tight, unusually loose, or exhibit any signs of uneven movement.
Road Test
Drive the vehicle on the road and attentively listen and feel for any symptoms mentioned above in the chassis.
What are the risks of driving with a bad ball joint?
A worn ball joint is not a problem that should be ignored. If the wear becomes severe, the stud may separate from the housing resulting in immediate loss of control of your vehicle.
Should you suspect worn ball joints, you should have your vehicle checked by a professional technician who has experience with diagnosing suspension problems.