What type of ball joint is commonly used in a MacPherson strut suspension?

What type of ball joint is commonly used in a MacPherson strut suspension?

MacPherson Strut: The strut and coil over spring requires a follower-type ball joint lower control arm. Short Long Arm (SLA): On this type of suspension with the spring connected to the lower control arm, a loaded lower ball joint and follower upper ball joint are typically used.

How do you check for ball joint wear?

Checking your ball joints when driving is straightforward, simply:

1. Take your car out for a drive.
2. Drive over speed bumps.
3. Turn the steering wheel.
4. Check your tyre wear.
5. Loosen the lug nuts.
6. Jack up the car and place wheel chocks behind the wheels.
7. Rock the tyre on its axis.
8. Remove the wheel.

What do ball joints do on a vehicle?

Ball joints consist of a ball and socket similar to the hip joint of the human body. Ball joints of your front suspension provide pivoting movement between the steering knuckles and control arms to provide a safe, smooth ride and allow you to precisely control your vehicle.

Does ball joints affect steering?

Steering – Worn ball joints can affect your vehicle’s steering, usually making the steering sloppy or stiff depending on how the ball joint is wearing. However, if both edges are wearing out faster than the middle, the problem is not ball joints, but under-inflation of your tires.

What grease is best for ball joints?

1. Lucas Oil – Best Grease for Ball Joints. According to Lucas Oil, its product lasts four times longer than the average grease.
2. Valvoline – Best Grease for u-Joints.
3. Royal Purple – Best Grease for Moog Ball Joints.
4. Red Line – Best Grease for CV Joints.

Can I spray WD40 on my ball joints?

The fix is to prick a small hole in the ball joint boot and spray WD40 into the boot. It worked on mine, but not for very long, couple of months at most. I went years before replacing that control arm doing a similar thing. Although, I used grease.

Is Lithium Grease good for ball joints?

Being a lithium complex grease, the product can be applied to old grease on ball bearings, and it will still work great. Effectiveness is the ultimate factor that makes the grease such a good choice.

How often should you grease your ball joints?

About every 4.5-5K

What type of grease is generally used to lubricate suspension system ball joints?

CV-type greases contain molybdenum disulfide to better lubricate and protect joints under constant suspension load. Synthetic greases are used on disc and drum brake components to protect them from water and brake dust.

How often should you grease suspension?

about every 6 months

What happens if you don’t grease your ball joints?

The suspension will collapse and you’ll lose the ability to steer with the wheel that has the broken ball joint. Either you end up stranded in a parking lot or it happens when you’re on the highway and you lose control. It’s a safety issue and should be addressed.

How long do ball joints typically 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 fix a ball joint?

The ball joint is a small part of your car, and the part itself is only going to cost between $20-$150 or more, depending on where you get it from and what kind of vehicle you own. It can take a little over an hour to get it replaced, so the full ball joint replacement cost will be between $100 and $400.

What would happens if your ball joint breaks while driving?

A broken ball joint may be the cause of a mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. And once they’re worn, they will seriously affect your steering and suspension. If a ball joint fails completely, it can even result in the wheel dramatically falling off the car.

Can you replace ball joints yourself?

Can You Replace Your Ball Joint? If you feel comfortable doing your own car maintenance, you can replace ball joints yourself. This can be accomplished using a tool called a ball joint press (Available through Loan-A-Tool).

What happens if you drive with a messed up ball joint?

In the worst case scenario when a ball joint completely breaks, the wheel is free to move in any direction, causing a complete loss in steering control as well as damage to whatever the freed wheel hits, which is often the fender and/or other steering and suspension parts.

How do I know I have bad ball joints?

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Ball Joint (Front)

1. Clunking noises coming from the front suspension. One of the most common symptoms of a problem with suspension ball joints is clunking noises coming from the vehicle’s front suspension.
2. Excessive vibration from the front of the vehicle.
3. Steering wandering to the left or right.

Can bad ball joints cause death wobble?

Worn ball joints and unit bearings are also a significant cause of death wobble. Jack up the vehicle and grab the front and back (3 o’clock and 9 o’clock) of the tire and see if there is any play. Up and down play suggests bad ball joints, while play in every direct suggests worn unit bearings.