Diyvehiclerepair
- How do you tell if it's a bad wheel bearing or ball joint?
- Is it safe to drive a car with bad ball joints?
- Do you need alignment after replacing ball joints?
- What happens if ball joints fail?
- How do you check ball joints?
- What does bad tie rod sound like?
- How much does it cost to fix a ball joint?
- How long can you drive on bad ball joints?
- Should I replace control arm or ball joint?
- How many miles should a ball joint last?
- How much does it cost to replace all 4 ball joints?
- What wears out first upper or lower ball joints?
How do you tell if it's a bad wheel bearing or ball joint?
Diagnosis -- Rocking the Tire
If the tire rocks by any noticeable degree, and especially if the movement is accompanied by a clinking or clunking sound, you likely have a bad ball joint or two. This test can also indicate a bad wheel bearing, but that will also grumble and vibrate as you drive in a straight line.
Is it safe to drive a car with bad ball joints?
Can I Drive With a Bad Ball Joint? ... You should not drive with a bad ball joint. Continuing to drive can cause damage to other vehicle components and if the joint fails completely you could lose control of the vehicle, leading to a crash and injuries.
Do you need alignment after replacing ball joints?
alignment after ball joint is not necessary unless your previous alignment was done when ball joints were bad and loose. If your car is driving sloppy after ball joints replacement, check other suspension...
What happens if ball joints fail?
Ball joint failure isn't a common problem, but can be the result of years of driving along bumpy, uneven road surfaces. A broken ball joint may be the cause of a mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. ... If a ball joint fails completely, it can even result in the wheel dramatically falling off the car.
How do you check ball joints?
Wear indicators include a movable grease fitting. When a collar of the grease fitting is flush with or below the bottom of the ball joint housing, the ball joint is worn and should be replaced. Other types have a wear indicator pin protruding through a hole in the bottom of the ball joint.
What does bad tie rod sound like?
When your tie rods go bad, the symptom you're most likely to experience first is a vibration or shaking sensation in your steering wheel. You may also hear associated clunking and rattling noises, especially when turning the vehicle at low speeds. These sounds are caused by tie rods that are starting to wear out.
How much does it cost to fix a ball joint?
A ball joint parts cost for most cars is usually around $80 – $150 each, but it can cost as high as $350 each in some luxury or performance cars. Meanwhile, labor cost is usually around $250 – $300. However, sometimes they can be as cheap as $150 depending on the repair shop's labor rates.
How long can you drive on bad ball joints?
short answer is... it depends on how bad they are. the lower ball joint typically gets more wear than the upper. i'd say, if there's just a little wiggle in either joint, you should have no problem driving 500 miles.
Should I replace control arm or ball joint?
In order to know if just the ball joint or the whole complete lower control arm needs replaced, the lower ball joint will need to be disconnected from the steering knuckle and checked to see if it fits tight in the lower control arm. If it is loose, then replace control arm.
How many miles should a ball joint last?
Generally speaking, you should expect to have to have your ball joints replaced between 70,000 to 150,000 miles of driving. Excessive play in the joint can cause additional wear, and if a ball joint fails, your car's suspension could collapse and you could lose control of the vehicle.
How much does it cost to replace all 4 ball joints?
To replace one or two ball joints, CostHelper readers report paying $260-$1,450, for an average of $522. To replace four ball joints, CostHelper readers report paying $360-$2,000, with an average price of $677.
What wears out first upper or lower ball joints?
Depending on the type of vehicle and suspension in question, there may possibly be an upper and a lower ball joint. The lower ball joint usually takes the biggest hits and wears out first.
