Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
09-30-2007 | 10:40 AM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
Eric wrote:
> "Big E. Ratt" wrote:
>> I'm getting some 'thunks' from my 2001 Civic EX front suspension, usually
>> when shifting between 1-2 and 2-3 , and also when the front tires hit an
>> obstacle that causes a front-to-back impact vs. and up and down. No
>> problems when driving daily at speed on the interstate. Struts are new
>> Tokico blues, as are the rear shocks.
>> Could it be bad ball joints ?
>
> To check the ball joints...
>
> Jack up the car and set it down on a pair of jack stands. Unlock the
> steering wheel. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Try to
> rock it back and forth. If you feel movement it could be either the ball
> joints or wheel bearing. Have someone else repeat the rocking described
> above while you get under the car and look at the suspension with a
> flashlight. If the movement is coming from the ball joints you should be
> able to see this. If not, then look at the back side of the hub area where
> the CV joint connects to the hub. If you see movement here, then the wheel
> bearing is bad. Note that sometimes grabbing the tire at the 5 and 9
> o'clock positions works better for detecting looseness in the lower ball
> joint. You can also check the tie rods for looseness by grabbing the tire
> at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If you feel any looseness here when you
> rock the tire back and forth, you can isolate it to the tie rods by feeling
> movement in the joint through the tie rod boots. The ball joint in the tie
> rod ends can be checked by squeezing them with a large pair of channel lock
> pliers in the vertical axis. Sometimes, this also works well for double
> checking any suspected looseness in the upper ball joints.
>
> Eric
unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
/least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
normal running position is with the weight on the wheels, thus, most
wear is with the ball joints in that position. letting the wheels
dangle ensures that ball joints are in a position where they have
/least/ wear since the vehicle has almost zero miles with the wheels in
that position.
the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
movement.
> "Big E. Ratt" wrote:
>> I'm getting some 'thunks' from my 2001 Civic EX front suspension, usually
>> when shifting between 1-2 and 2-3 , and also when the front tires hit an
>> obstacle that causes a front-to-back impact vs. and up and down. No
>> problems when driving daily at speed on the interstate. Struts are new
>> Tokico blues, as are the rear shocks.
>> Could it be bad ball joints ?
>
> To check the ball joints...
>
> Jack up the car and set it down on a pair of jack stands. Unlock the
> steering wheel. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Try to
> rock it back and forth. If you feel movement it could be either the ball
> joints or wheel bearing. Have someone else repeat the rocking described
> above while you get under the car and look at the suspension with a
> flashlight. If the movement is coming from the ball joints you should be
> able to see this. If not, then look at the back side of the hub area where
> the CV joint connects to the hub. If you see movement here, then the wheel
> bearing is bad. Note that sometimes grabbing the tire at the 5 and 9
> o'clock positions works better for detecting looseness in the lower ball
> joint. You can also check the tie rods for looseness by grabbing the tire
> at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If you feel any looseness here when you
> rock the tire back and forth, you can isolate it to the tie rods by feeling
> movement in the joint through the tie rod boots. The ball joint in the tie
> rod ends can be checked by squeezing them with a large pair of channel lock
> pliers in the vertical axis. Sometimes, this also works well for double
> checking any suspected looseness in the upper ball joints.
>
> Eric
unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
/least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
normal running position is with the weight on the wheels, thus, most
wear is with the ball joints in that position. letting the wheels
dangle ensures that ball joints are in a position where they have
/least/ wear since the vehicle has almost zero miles with the wheels in
that position.
the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
movement.
09-30-2007 | 10:40 AM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
Eric wrote:
> "Big E. Ratt" wrote:
>> I'm getting some 'thunks' from my 2001 Civic EX front suspension, usually
>> when shifting between 1-2 and 2-3 , and also when the front tires hit an
>> obstacle that causes a front-to-back impact vs. and up and down. No
>> problems when driving daily at speed on the interstate. Struts are new
>> Tokico blues, as are the rear shocks.
>> Could it be bad ball joints ?
>
> To check the ball joints...
>
> Jack up the car and set it down on a pair of jack stands. Unlock the
> steering wheel. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Try to
> rock it back and forth. If you feel movement it could be either the ball
> joints or wheel bearing. Have someone else repeat the rocking described
> above while you get under the car and look at the suspension with a
> flashlight. If the movement is coming from the ball joints you should be
> able to see this. If not, then look at the back side of the hub area where
> the CV joint connects to the hub. If you see movement here, then the wheel
> bearing is bad. Note that sometimes grabbing the tire at the 5 and 9
> o'clock positions works better for detecting looseness in the lower ball
> joint. You can also check the tie rods for looseness by grabbing the tire
> at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If you feel any looseness here when you
> rock the tire back and forth, you can isolate it to the tie rods by feeling
> movement in the joint through the tie rod boots. The ball joint in the tie
> rod ends can be checked by squeezing them with a large pair of channel lock
> pliers in the vertical axis. Sometimes, this also works well for double
> checking any suspected looseness in the upper ball joints.
>
> Eric
unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
/least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
normal running position is with the weight on the wheels, thus, most
wear is with the ball joints in that position. letting the wheels
dangle ensures that ball joints are in a position where they have
/least/ wear since the vehicle has almost zero miles with the wheels in
that position.
the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
movement.
> "Big E. Ratt" wrote:
>> I'm getting some 'thunks' from my 2001 Civic EX front suspension, usually
>> when shifting between 1-2 and 2-3 , and also when the front tires hit an
>> obstacle that causes a front-to-back impact vs. and up and down. No
>> problems when driving daily at speed on the interstate. Struts are new
>> Tokico blues, as are the rear shocks.
>> Could it be bad ball joints ?
>
> To check the ball joints...
>
> Jack up the car and set it down on a pair of jack stands. Unlock the
> steering wheel. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Try to
> rock it back and forth. If you feel movement it could be either the ball
> joints or wheel bearing. Have someone else repeat the rocking described
> above while you get under the car and look at the suspension with a
> flashlight. If the movement is coming from the ball joints you should be
> able to see this. If not, then look at the back side of the hub area where
> the CV joint connects to the hub. If you see movement here, then the wheel
> bearing is bad. Note that sometimes grabbing the tire at the 5 and 9
> o'clock positions works better for detecting looseness in the lower ball
> joint. You can also check the tie rods for looseness by grabbing the tire
> at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If you feel any looseness here when you
> rock the tire back and forth, you can isolate it to the tie rods by feeling
> movement in the joint through the tie rod boots. The ball joint in the tie
> rod ends can be checked by squeezing them with a large pair of channel lock
> pliers in the vertical axis. Sometimes, this also works well for double
> checking any suspected looseness in the upper ball joints.
>
> Eric
unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
/least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
normal running position is with the weight on the wheels, thus, most
wear is with the ball joints in that position. letting the wheels
dangle ensures that ball joints are in a position where they have
/least/ wear since the vehicle has almost zero miles with the wheels in
that position.
the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
movement.
10-01-2007 | 03:17 AM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
jim beam wrote:
>
> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
> movement.
I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
looseness in the ball joints.
Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
examined.
Eric
>
> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
> movement.
I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
looseness in the ball joints.
Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
examined.
Eric
10-01-2007 | 03:17 AM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
jim beam wrote:
>
> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
> movement.
I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
looseness in the ball joints.
Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
examined.
Eric
>
> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
> movement.
I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
looseness in the ball joints.
Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
examined.
Eric
10-01-2007 | 08:49 AM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
Eric wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
no. take the wheel off and look at it if you need to remind yourself of
configuration - that can't happen.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined.
once they're worn /that/ bad, sure. but the idea is that you try to
detect it before it gets so such an extreme if you want to maintain
safety and not incur tire wear.
> A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
yes indeed.
> jim beam wrote:
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
no. take the wheel off and look at it if you need to remind yourself of
configuration - that can't happen.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined.
once they're worn /that/ bad, sure. but the idea is that you try to
detect it before it gets so such an extreme if you want to maintain
safety and not incur tire wear.
> A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
yes indeed.
10-01-2007 | 08:49 AM
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
Eric wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
no. take the wheel off and look at it if you need to remind yourself of
configuration - that can't happen.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined.
once they're worn /that/ bad, sure. but the idea is that you try to
detect it before it gets so such an extreme if you want to maintain
safety and not incur tire wear.
> A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
yes indeed.
> jim beam wrote:
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
no. take the wheel off and look at it if you need to remind yourself of
configuration - that can't happen.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined.
once they're worn /that/ bad, sure. but the idea is that you try to
detect it before it gets so such an extreme if you want to maintain
safety and not incur tire wear.
> A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
yes indeed.
10-01-2007 | 09:09 AM
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:9f-dnQAHuvXKKGLbnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@speakeasy.net:
l joints.
>>
>> Eric
>
> unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
> letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
> /least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
The very best and most accurate way is simply to pop the taper, lever the
control arm out of the way, then wiggle the stud by hand.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
news:9f-dnQAHuvXKKGLbnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@speakeasy.net:
l joints.
>>
>> Eric
>
> unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
> letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
> /least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
The very best and most accurate way is simply to pop the taper, lever the
control arm out of the way, then wiggle the stud by hand.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
10-01-2007 | 09:09 AM
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:9f-dnQAHuvXKKGLbnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@speakeasy.net:
l joints.
>>
>> Eric
>
> unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
> letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
> /least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
The very best and most accurate way is simply to pop the taper, lever the
control arm out of the way, then wiggle the stud by hand.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
news:9f-dnQAHuvXKKGLbnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@speakeasy.net:
l joints.
>>
>> Eric
>
> unfortunately, while you're right in principle, jacking the car up and
> letting the wheels dangle with the chassis on stands is about the
> /least/ successful way of detecting ball joint wear possible.
The very best and most accurate way is simply to pop the taper, lever the
control arm out of the way, then wiggle the stud by hand.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
10-02-2007 | 02:13 AM
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message news:47009F1B.2BFEDAC4@spam.now...
> jim beam wrote:
>>
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a
> goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
>
> Eric
However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can be
detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a need to
replace the part?
DaveD
10-02-2007 | 02:13 AM
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message news:47009F1B.2BFEDAC4@spam.now...
> jim beam wrote:
>>
>> the solution is to test with the suspension having weight on it. the
>> easiest thing for the home mechanic is to jack one wheel at a time, with
>> the jack directly under a suspension member, wheel /just/ off the
>> ground. /then/ you can exert force on the wheel and see if you can feel
>> movement.
>
> I do not believe that jacking up the car from the lower control arm will
> produce a normal load on the suspension. One could only achieve such a
> goal
> by putting a floor jack under the tire and jacking up the suspension from
> that point. However, this would interfere with one's ability to detect
> looseness in the ball joints.
>
> Moreover, for what it's worth, I've never had any problems detecting
> looseness in the ball joints following the protocol that I outlined. A
> supplement to the technique could be to use a large prybar to move the
> suspension around in the vertical axis of the particular ball joint being
> examined.
>
> Eric
However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can be
detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a need to
replace the part?
DaveD
10-02-2007 | 07:55 AM
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Dave and Trudy" <dtdodson@acsalaska.net> wrote in
news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
> need to replace the part?
>
> >
>
>
Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the bearings,
etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not be
apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
Pop the taper and do the check properly.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
> need to replace the part?
>
> >
>
>
Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the bearings,
etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not be
apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
Pop the taper and do the check properly.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
10-02-2007 | 07:55 AM
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Dave and Trudy" <dtdodson@acsalaska.net> wrote in
news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
> need to replace the part?
>
> >
>
>
Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the bearings,
etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not be
apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
Pop the taper and do the check properly.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
> need to replace the part?
>
> >
>
>
Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the bearings,
etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not be
apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
Pop the taper and do the check properly.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
10-03-2007 | 03:46 AM
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns99BD50504FC79tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "Dave and Trudy" <dtdodson@acsalaska.net> wrote in
> news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
>
>
>> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
>> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
>> need to replace the part?
>>
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
> Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the
> bearings,
> etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
>
> Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not
> be
> apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
> balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
>
> Pop the taper and do the check properly.
>
> --
> Tegger
Understand and agree with your logic. The wiggle or shake test, in my
opinion, is useful for a quick, spot check only. Another clue can be gotten
from abnormal tire wear pattern, which would show up even in the case of a
seized joint.... Cupping sort of randomly around the tread, IIRC. Of course,
by this time other clues should be apparent....
DaveD
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
10-03-2007 | 03:46 AM
#29
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Re: Ball Joints: How to Tell if they are bad ?
"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns99BD50504FC79tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "Dave and Trudy" <dtdodson@acsalaska.net> wrote in
> news:4701e1aa@news.acsalaska.net:
>
>
>> However, if excessive movement in a ball joint and/or tie rod end can
>> be detected with no load on the suspension wouldn't that indicate a
>> need to replace the part?
>>
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
> Certainly, provided the play is actually in the joint and not the
> bearings,
> etc. And you need to be able to tell WHICH joint is bad.
>
> Plus, Honda balljoints can seize instead of getting loose. This will not
> be
> apparent from the "wiggle" test, no matter how you do it. A seized
> balljoint is very bad news indeed. Ask me how I know.
>
> Pop the taper and do the check properly.
>
> --
> Tegger
Understand and agree with your logic. The wiggle or shake test, in my
opinion, is useful for a quick, spot check only. Another clue can be gotten
from abnormal tire wear pattern, which would show up even in the case of a
seized joint.... Cupping sort of randomly around the tread, IIRC. Of course,
by this time other clues should be apparent....
DaveD
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
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