Lower ball joints

[stenz]

So I went to brakes plus today to have an alignment done. They guy calls me up and says that he cant do the alignment because they lower ball joints are starting to go bad. So I go and pick up the (2004 Chevy Trailblazer) and I ask the guy up front how he determines that the lower ball joints are bad. He says that they push down on the lower control arm and if it has a lot of movement then they are bad.


I thought this to be a lousy explanation.... Does anyone know how to tell if the lower ball joints are going bad? The vehicle drives fine. They reason I took it in is because the tires are starting to wear a little uneven (every other outside tread lug is wearing more then the next).

Any help is appreciated!

[brianakell]

So I went to brakes plus today to have an alignment done. They guy calls me up and says that he cant do the alignment because they lower ball joints are starting to go bad. So I go and pick up the (2004 Chevy Trailblazer) and I ask the guy up front how he determines that the lower ball joints are bad. He says that they push down on the lower control arm and if it has a lot of movement then they are bad.


I thought this to be a lousy explanation.... Does anyone know how to tell if the lower ball joints are going bad? The vehicle drives fine. They reason I took it in is because the tires are starting to wear a little uneven (every other outside tread lug is wearing more then the next).

Any help is appreciated!

Hes right, and coupled with the tire wear, pretty textbook.

[def90]

They reason I took it in is because the tires are starting to wear a little uneven (every other outside tread lug is wearing more then the next).

Any help is appreciated!

Sounds like bad ball joints..



sent from a soup can and some string..

[OtterbatHellcat]

IMO....mistake taking anything to Brakes Plus.

Notorious for selling shit that you don't need done.

Fact though, is that you can have ball joint issues without "noticing" a drivability problem. Also, getting an alignment if you really do have bad ball joints, is a waste of money.

If you jack up one side of your car with the weight on the control arm itself, grasp both the top and bottom side of the mounted wheel/tire, and try to "wiggle" the wheel. (hands at the 12 and 6 o'clock position) if you feel any slop there, you have an issue with ball joints, or maybe some wheel bearing issue. Have someone else do the wiggling while you use a flashlight to eyeball the ball joints yourself.

Tire lugs can wear funny for different reasons, and ball joints are only one reason. If the outsides are wearing, it might be toed in. Aggressive cornering can do some weird stuff to the outside lugs too.

Hope some of this helps ya.

[Mtn.man]

Yep.

[stenz]

Well sounds like they might be right. They quoted me $515 plus $58 for alignment. I am pretty handy in the garage so I think I might do them myself. I could probably get them done for under $175.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well sounds like they might be right. They quoted me $515 plus $58 for alignment. I am pretty handy in the garage so I think I might do them myself. I could probably get them done for under $175.

you have the tools and warm place to work?

[OtterbatHellcat]

Bad ball joints typically wear out the insides of tires, not the outsides.

Just sayin'.

[stenz]

I have a garage and most the tools required are hand tools. I would have to rent a ball joint press from autozone or advanced auto.

you have the tools and warm place to work?

[Great-Kazoo]

I have a garage and most the tools required are hand tools. I would have to rent a ball joint press from autozone or advanced auto.

Pickle fork, air hammer and compressor? This ball joints aren't gonna pop off the lower control arm with out some elbow grease.