Wipe each joint clean, and check if it is perished, cracked or contaminated by oil. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles and is named for American automotive engineer Earle S. MacPherson, who invented and developed the design. 7. Grip and twist the track control and stabiliser arms, to see if there is movement in the ball joints. 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. Fits multiple Polaris Models. Examine the rubber-bushed ends and joint dust covers. Look for a wear indicator. Open the bonnet and bounce the front of the car up and down while watching the rubber bush at the centre of the strut mounting. There is light ice underneath so I kicked it out and try to drive it again and it still shakes bad. Degrease the brake disc and reverse all above steps. With the front suspension unloaded and engine off, grasp the upper area of the strut’s coil spring and push the strut inboard/outboard. To measure play, simply raise the vehicle and allow the suspension … If the ball joint has a built-in wear indicator, joint play should be checked … Wheels must be on for some checks. Do you have the service/workshop manual? to the road. dampers One of the simplest ways for the do-it-yourself Subaru enthusiast to inspect the ball joints on a Subaru STI that is for sale is to lift the front wheels off the ground and set it on jack stands. How a Car Works is created, written by, and maintained by Alex Muir. Check our general torque tightening schedule if you do not have access to the manufacturer's recommendations. steering swivel joints There's ridiculous detail on every part. inside a MacPherson Look for any movement other than the normal pivoting motion. Alternatively, have someone look at the ball joint while you attempt to move it. What can damage ball joints when the car is moving? I was driving the car and I can go up to 40 miles an hour and then it starts to shake is out but. For tips from our mechanic reviewer on how to check the ball joints in a vehicle with McPherson strut suspension, keep reading! A MacPherson strut uses a wishbone, or a substantial compression link stabilized by a secondary link, which provides a bottom mounting point for the hub carrier or axle of the wheel. On vehicles with strut suspensions, the non-load bearing lower joints are checked with the wheels off the ground and the suspension hanging free. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. damper If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Now tighten the lower bolts of the MacPherson struts to the recommended torque. Or you can YouTube it/look online for the owner's manual. References ball joints If it has excess wear it can separate, causing the spindle assembly to fall partially off the car. Lever against the various components while looking carefully' to see if there is any movement in the joint or bush. If your car doesn’t have a wear indicator, raise the front end of the car up, then use a dial indicator and rock the wheels to check for play. Jack up the rear of the car and support it on stands with the front wheels chocked. In order to check the condition of the ball joints, you need to jack the car and shake the control arm. With MacPherson struts, look at the mounting at the top of the inner wing panel. The bushes gradually wear and lose their effectiveness. To check the joint, the upper control arm is supported to unload the joint. This article was co-authored by Mike Parra. What should I do? If any of these components fail, when you hit a bump, not all of your steering components do their job, causing a lot of free play depending on the situation. Locate the strut top mounting. Cleaning the outside and checking for rust Take it to a garage to have the old bushes removed and new ones fitted, if they are available. ). (See The automotive ball joint connects the control arm to the steering knuckle. Check the condition of the bolts and bushes that hold the inner ends of the wishbones to the car chassis. When the Most likely have a shield rattling on the exhaust. http://www.knowyourparts.com/product-category/ball-joint-control-arm-and-tie-rod-inspection-tips/, https://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/article/97841/suspension-inspection-tips-on-checking-a-variety-of-suspension-components, https://www.knowyourparts.com/technical-resources/ride-control/ball-joint-control-arm-and-tie-rod-inspection-tips/, https://www.knowyourparts.com/technical-resources/suspension/measure-ball-joint-wear/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/tires/car-repair-car-jack-safety/, https://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/blog/how-to-check-ball-joints/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Examine all the swivels on the suspension and steering links. The inner mounting is on the floor pan and is usually well covered against deterioration, but can fail because of corrosion fatigue in due course. What should I do? Make sure, too, the pivot bolts are tight, and that the mounting brackets and the areas around the brackets are not corroded. If not, check Autozone's free repair guides. If any flexing is seen, the bush should be replaced. force What is the torque specifications for ball joints? The ball joint should allow free twisting movement, but should not allow lateral movement. NOTE: To check ball joint wear on vehicles when the spring is supported on the upper control arm or when the spring is a part of a MacPherson strut or wear in any other type suspension not using ball joints when the front wheels are suspended on a solid axle, the … (See These will fit any Polaris Model that uses the MacPherson Strut, and this is an insane deal! I just replaced the upper ball joints on my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer and they were $150 for each side. My car is making a rattling sound when I start it. at the front, the rear or at both ends. Place a long bar, usually a pry par, under the tire. This article has been viewed 600,761 times. While doing this, check the steering rack boots for oil leakage or ballooning. Fortunately, you can quickly and easily check your ball joints for excessive wear before you experience severe steering or suspension problems. If the movement is beyond specifications, replace the ball joint. Most new cars do not have wear indicators, or a grease fitting. The wishbones support the steering swivel member at their outer ends, and the lower wishbone provides a mounting point for the . When the damper inside a MacPherson strut wears out, ... on several cars there is no need to disconnect any of the steering ball joints or the anti-roll bar (if fitted). Check the wishbone joints where they pivot at the inner ends, and also the moving joints and pivots at the outer ends of the wishbone and track-control arms where they are fixed to the steering swivel members, or suspension legs in the case of MacPherson The Experienced mechanics will also just check play by the feel, listening closely for any clicking or easy motion that suggests the ball joint is worn out. This applies to older cars. ). Inspect tie rods, ball joints, shocks and springs, and odds and ends, like maybe your steering shaft and Pitman arm. Jack the front of the car up, allowing the suspension to hang, and support it on axle stands. For a SLA suspension that has the coil spring over the top arm, the upper joint is loaded. Check for corrosion, which is a common problem with older cars. History. Check the axle locating arm by trying to twist it in its bushes. struts On others the track-rod end, and sometimes the track control arm or anti-roll bar or both, must be detached. torsion bars You can buy them off of Amazon for $50, left, right, top, and bottom. Thanks for reminding me. How to replace anti-roll-bar bushes It's much cheaper. ", "What to look for on the suspension to fix and prevent my car from wearing down my tires and keep me safe. Any movement of the strut relative to the body indicates a worn or damaged upper strut mount. lever Checking steering swivel pins Check the joints at the end of the Learn everything about modern cars from our new video series. Place a jack under the ball joint and load the joint by raising the jack. Check the soundness of the metal at the anchorage point. If it tightens up, the steering will bind so you can have a stiff spot as you turn the steering wheel. Read the dial indicator and check against the manufacturer’s specifications. Naturally getting underneath a vehicle supported only by a jack is not wise. The ball joints allow the suspension of your vehicle to move up and down, while at the same time allow the wheels to turn left and right. The grease fitting shouldn’t wiggle either. For a SLA suspension, the upper control arm can be blocked and the joint can be compressed. Signs of Wear. On some cars a reinforcing plate can be welded to the upper mount of the MacPherson strut, if rust has not weakened the rest of the structure. It is essential to make a regular check on the condition of all joints in the . Check all the mountings and rubber bushes at the ends of the How to check ball joints. ) or have them replaced at a garage as soon as possible. The lower ball joint on a vehicle with MacPherson struts is a follower joint. If you can’t find a wear indicator, or if the indicator doesn’t give you a clear enough sign, raise up the car to inspect the joint more thoroughly. The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. A lower control arm (orange) is triangulated by the anti-roll bar (black). If the movement is beyond specifications, replace the ball joint. There may be a binding or squeaking sound in addition to the stiff spot. various suspension parts can easily topple a car that is not securely supported. Make sure there is no compression in the suspension when you check the ball joint. If any are found to be contaminated with oil, find the source of the leak and repair it, otherwise any new bushes fitted will be affected. However, without the protection of a good boot, the ball joint will tend to wear faster, because it won't be properly lubed, and grit and rust will deteriorate the joint quickly. If you find any joints or pivots to be worn or damaged, replace them (See Just like the ball socket of your hip, they serve as one of the main pivot points connecting the control arms of the vehicle to the steering knuckle. ground coil If any flexing is seen, the bush should be replaced. Ball joints play a very important part when it comes to the suspension components of almost all modern vehicles. The How much does it cost to replace ball joints? Yes, you can replace it yourself, you can do almost everything on a vehicle yourself. Then check the suspension in its normal loaded position by jacking up each suspension arm in turn. Also, check the manufacturer's recommended service interval in the owner's manual. Clearly and easily explained. With weight off the suspension, inspect the rubber bushes for cracks, softness or distortion. dampers Check for corrosion, which is a common problem with older cars. The tension strut ball joint can only be replaced with the tension strut. Use a strong lever to try to move jointed components apart - any movement means that the joint must be replaced at a garage. . Because load-bearing ball joints carry vehicle weight, they usually wear first. How to check U-Joints When a vehicle has just 20,000 km or more, there could be some internal wear and new shocks and struts may be needed. Fully inspect every piece of the steering and suspension, especially in the front end. Macpherson Struts To take the place of the upper control arm in a conventional SLA suspension system, the spring and shock absorber are built as one assembly in the MacPherson strut design. They are round (hence the name "ball") bearings in a socket which function just like the ball and socket of a human hip. It helps to have an assistant lever against the joint while you watch it for movement. Let the MacPherson struts extend as far out as you can before you try to check the wheels for play. If there are any worn or damaged components, have them replaced by a garage. Struts are the connecting link between the upper strut bearing and the lower ball joint. Remove the wheel if necessary, and examine all the rubber bushes as they are distorted by the weight of the suspension. Because the ball join… 15 hours of pro-quality, HD content with subtitles. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. For vertical play, place the dial indicator against the steering knuckle stud nut or the ball joint housing, depending on the manufacturer. ). Move the dial gauge to the side of the nut and grab the tire at the bottom and move it in and out to check radial play of the joint. "Terminology, photos, and concepts were easy to understand, even if choosing to leave the testing to a professional. If you find splits, have the gaiter replaced at a garage. On front-wheel-drive cars, check the condition of the constant-velocity joints on each Approved. We've created the most detailed 3D model ever produced so we can show you everything working. If they are worn, have them replaced. Otherwise, the suspension mounting may break loose. and need to be replaced. Over a period of years the rubber hardens and tends to crack. Naturally, inspect coil springs for breaks, cracks or coil bind. Upgrade your Polaris UTV with Super ATV Replacement Ball Joint (MacPherson Strut) today!! The rear suspension is simpler than the front, and most of the bushed joints are easy to inspect. I have a 1998 Ford Mondeo, the car drives fine and smooth until I go over a bump. The spindle (red) is rigidly connected to the lower portion of the strut (dark blue). Even if there is no flexing, check also the condition of the bush itself. To detect the ball joint deflection, look at the below image. Auto manufacturers build different suspension set-ups, so read the manual to determine which type of ball joint your vehicle uses. ", "Helped confirm what I suspected, that I had been shown it many years ago but forgot. If the rubber bushes are distorted, perished, cracked or contaminated by oil, they must be replaced. This work must be done by a garage. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control vertical movement. , and do so with as little change as possible in the distance between adjacent wheels or in the near-vertical angle of the The ball joint for the lower control arm can be replaced as a separate component of the knuckle. or Get a helper to force the suspension upwards, using a long lever placed under the wheel, and look for play or distortion in all the joints and bushes. INSTALL MACPHERSON RIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY. I have a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder and I was told that I need to replace the passenger front ball joint. Stop wasting time on YouTube and get serious! Examine the steering swivel pins for wear (See Jack the wheel off the Head-on view of a MacPherson strut front suspension. 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If the movement is beyond specifications, replace the ball joints on my 2005 Chevy and! Steering shaft and Pitman arm inspect tie how to check ball joints on macpherson strut, ball joints for excessive before! Can have a stiff spot ) today! track-rod end, and sometimes the track control stabiliser. Play, place the dial indicator against the steering will bind so you can buy them off of Amazon $!