What happens if ball joints go out

They connect the control arm to the steering knuckles and allow for smooth and solid movement in the suspension. The front suspension of most cars has at least lower ball joints and in some cases upper ones as well.

Ball joints deteriorate if dirt, grit and impurities get inside or grease escapes, leading to a lack of lubrication. Added to this, rusting and general wear and tear also damage these suspension parts.

This is a clear indicator that you need to look into ball joint replacement. If you suspect ball joint wear, the car should be inspected as soon as possible. Ball joint replacement is not straightforward, as they can be very tricky to access and install — especially with age and rust. On some cars, the ball joint is integrated into the control arm. Not all ball joints are created equal.

Parts that are made from premium materials with an innovative design have greater strength and durability. MOOG ball joints are made from superior compounds that are better able to cope with high temperatures, dirt and abrasion. The housings are forged from a single block of fine-grain alloy steel for greater strength. Ball joints play a major role in the steering and suspension of cars and can last a long time. Worn ball joints will be loose in their sockets and vibrate excessively as the vehicle is in motion.

The vibration will usually stem from the affected ball joint, either from the right or left sides of the vehicle. In some cases, the vibration may be felt through the steering wheel as well. Another symptom of worn ball joints is wandering steering. Wandering steering is when the vehicle steering drifts from left to right on its own. When the ball joints are in good condition, and the wheels are in proper alignment the steering wheel should stay mostly straight and direct in response.

Worn ball joints will cause the vehicle steering to wander to the left or right, which will require the driver to compensate for the issue. If necessary, they will be able to replace any failing ball joints for you. This article originally appeared on YourMechanic. Autoblog is partnering with YourMechanic to bring many of the repair and maintenance services you need right to you.

Get service at your home or office 7 days a week with fair and transparent pricing. We get it. Sales: Service: Parts: Ball joints are just one of the many components that can go bad.

Browse Our New Volkswagen Inventory. Ball joints are a crucial part of the suspension system. The suspension is what allows your vehicle to hit bumps and move around without causing a lot of jolts inside the cabin for passengers. Using a spring-like system for each wheel, the suspension makes for a smoother ride.

The ball joint allows each wheel to move side to side and up and down with more versatility. The front suspension of your vehicle is a pretty remarkable system. A complex assembly of control links and wheel hubs, the front suspension not only allows your front wheels to move up and down independently of one another to give you a smooth ride, it also makes both wheels turn left or right together so that you can make your vehicle go where you need to go. Although there are various types of front suspensions, such as the upper and lower control arm type and the MacPherson strut type, they all share a common component that enables them to do what they are designed to do: the ball joint.

If a ball joint fails, it can have dire consequences. Read on to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a failing ball joint. The wheel hubs, on which your wheels and tires are mounted, are attached to the outer ends of each control arm and remain generally vertical as they move up and down with the pivoting of the control arms.

The hubs are also connected to your steering system and must be able to pivot left and right at any point in their up and down movement.

Ball joints are the critical components that connect your wheel hubs to the control arms. They provide universal pivoting movement between the wheel hubs and control arms to give you a safe, smooth ride and allow you to precisely control your vehicle. Their actual lifespan will depend on your driving habits, road conditions and exposure to road splash and salt.