Do you need to replace the ball joint in a control arm?
Do you need to replace the ball joint in a control arm?
If it fits tight then you will need to remove the ball joint from control arm and see if a new ball joint will fit tight in the control arm or control arm still will need to be replaced. This is why you were advised to replace the whole control arm. Was this answer helpful? Thank you for your feedback! Sorry about that.
Why are control arms, bushings, and ball joints important?
Control arms, bushings, and ball joints may not be common household terms for many vehicle owners. You may have never even heard of them, but they are critical components of your vehicle’s suspension system that allow your tires to smoothly go up and down in a controlled fashion. Without them, your ride probably wouldn’t be very enjoyable.
What is the function of the lower ball joint?
The lower ball joint is the load-carrying joint in this type of suspension, while the upper ball joint is the follower, with no significant load to support. It acts only as a second pivot point for steering.
What causes the ball joints to wear out faster?
Depending on the type of suspension, most cars have both upper and lower ball joints. The lower ball joints are usually larger and wear out faster due to the weight of the front of car that rests on them. Click here to read our detailed article on ball joints.
What are bad ball joints?
Bad ball joints take for granted the safety of the driver and all the other people in the car. This is because of the fact that the tire will not have proper traction against the road. When this happens, the driver will lose control of his or her car. One of the parts that may be damaged the most due to bad ball joints is the tire.
What are the symptoms of worn out ball joints?
One of the most common symptoms associated with excessively worn rear ball joints is a clunking noise coming from the affected ball joint. When a ball joint begins to wear out, it will become loose in its socket and clunk or rattle when force is placed upon it.
What is upper control arm?
The upper control arm (UCA, or sometimes known as A-Arm) is the part of the suspension that connects to the body at one end, and at the other end connects to the upper ball joint at the top of the spindle, around which the front wheel rotates. As your wheel goes over bumps, the UCA has to go up and down relative to the body of the vehicle.
What is ball joint failure?
Vehicle ball joint failure is suspected of being caused by a manufacturing flaw that causes the front suspension ball joints to prematurely deteriorate faster than they should, hampering the steering of the vehicle and potentially leading to accidents. Ball joint failure has been recognized by the manufacturer prompting a recall…
