The car ball joint absorbs the rotating movement while steering. Besides its absorbing capacity, it also has a supportive task to the suspension. For example, providing support at up- and downward movements at a speed bump. At speed bumps, the ball joints also suffer the most. Because the joint is exposed to some real pressure, it may break. In that case, you need to replace it.
Ball joint failure
When does a ball joint need to be replaced? It is necessary to replace a ball joint when there is space around it. This space is caused because of wear and tear between the ball and the swivel. You can recognize this if you feel/hear a clunk when you steer your car into a corner. Especially noticeable when driving on uneven surfaces. This could indicate that the bushings or ball joints have become loose. A ball joint must also be replaced if the rubber bushing, also known as the ball joint cover, which is wrapped around the ball for protection, is broken. A broken dust cover may have lost protection due to cracks which means that dirt can get at the ball joint. Dirt in itself can cause serious damage to the joint.
Keeping on driving with a worn ball joint is extremely dangerous. If the ball joint is too loose, the ball may break and you may lose control over your car. Did you notice vibrations coming from your steering wheel, or ?wandering? steering that causes the vehicle to pull to the right or left, you may need to replace some components. Please regularly check the ball joint for wear and tear using a vehicle (scissor) lift.
Replacing ball joint
You can choose to replace the ball joint yourself. Be warned, however, replacing it yourself is somewhat a difficult job. Some knowledge is required. It is difficult to say exactly how the ball joint needs to be replaced in your situation, as this differs per brand and type of car. With one car the ball joint is easier to replace than it is with others. Down below we walk you through the process of replacing a ball joint in general.
Before you start, we strongly advise to only use a clean and tidied up garage. Bit of a mess? Tidy up first. Furthermore, make sure that you have the right tools at hand. Once this is all in place, drive your car on a vehicle lift or lift it with a car jack and some axle stands. It´s important that you can reach the ball joint(s) well. Do you see that there is space on the ball joint? Then it's time to replace it. The ball of the joint is firmly attached with a conical pin. To release it more easily it is best to use a puller or stub fork. Always be careful when releasing the ball, you obviously do not want to damage surrounding parts. To be able to release the ball, tension is required by means of a stub fork or puller. If you have it under pressure, you can give it a bit of a push by giving the kingpin a whack with a hammer for a few times. In most cases, the ball joint will come loose.
Once you have removed the old ball joint you can assemble the new ball joint. Before assembly, clean the surrounding area and check the other parts for damage. If one or more appears damaged, this is the time to replace it as well. Keep in mind that when replacing the ball joint, the wheel position can change.
Buying ball joints
You can buy a ball joint comfortably at Winparts. To find the right product you can use our number plate checker. Simply enter your number plate on the website and the suitable products for your car will be displayed. In addition to ball joints, you can also find ball joint covers, suspension arms, control arm rubbers and other products for the wheel suspension of your car at Winparts.