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Many car owners underestimate the importance of the ball joint – such a vulnerable suspension element. Not only do they not monitor their condition, but they also reduce their resource daily. Only in extreme cases do ball joints fail instantly, usually preceded by a series of symptoms that can be seen in advance and replaced with new parts.
The breakdown of the ball joint itself is already a severe problem, primarily if it occurs when the car is moving. Depending on the brand and working conditions, the working condition is maintained from 15 to 150 thousand mileage.
Self-diagnosis
Alarm bells malfunction:
- You hear dull knocks and vibration in the floor while driving on uneven roads (the problem may be an insufficient amount of lubrication in the ball joints or finger knocks due to increased mechanical wear)
- Tyres on the front and rear of the machine wear unevenly
- Squeak when turning the steering wheel
If there are at least one of these signs, you need to quickly diagnose the suspension and steering of the car.
So, how to diagnose whether it is necessary to change the ball joint? After all, such sounds can be made, for example, by a silent block.
1.It is necessary to check the condition of the anthers of the ball joint because it is with them that problems with the hinges usually begin.
2. By ear. The assembly ball joint in a suspension vehicle should make a slight clicking sound as it is moved up and down. Also, have someone look at the ball joint while you try to move it. It will shake slightly and look fragile if it needs to be replaced.
3. Look under the car, look at the bottom of the steering knuckle attached to the wheel. The most common indicator is the grease nipple, which serves as a wear indicator. If the support wears out, the wheel hub will sink into the housing. If you cannot find the wear indicator, or if the indicator does not give you a clear enough sign, raise the vehicle to inspect the hinge more closely.
Reasons for the failure of the ball joint
Drivers themselves sometimes accelerate the death of the ball joint, making a lot of gross mistakes:
– If the car often drives on rough roads or off-road
– If grease has developed, it must be added; otherwise, friction will arise, which will negatively affect the operation of the ball joint
– A broken ball joint is manifested by grinding the pin due to an increase in the gap, which leads to the loosening of the element
– To extend the performance of the ball joint, anthers are used to prevent water, sand and other debris from entering the mechanism. If cracks appear on the boot, then you need to urgently replace it.
The ball joint is one of the critical elements of the suspension and demands the driver’s attention. If its strong wear is not noticed in time, this can lead to a dangerous accident.
BONUS: Reagents on the road: how to protect the body?
In winter, in addition to the car’s cold start, snowdrifts, the driver is still faced with protecting the vehicle from reagents. On the one hand, the sand-salt mixture gives the car a good grip on the road, but on the other hand, these reagents have a terrible effect on the body, paintwork, plastic body kits and even rubber. And then the question arises – how to protect the car from them. Our experts will tell you how to protect the body from chemicals on the road.
How can you reduce the negative impact and thereby save yourself from unnecessary costs? A massive range of waxes is applied to the lacquer coating to protect it from the environment. You can protect yourself from corroding the body by using anti-corrosion treatment of the car. It should be done every two years.
Precautions also include a car wash. With the onset of frost, many drivers try to postpone washing until better times, but in winter, it is much more important than in summer to wash the car more often. Moisture, together with road reagents, penetrates through cracks in the paintwork and causes corrosion. It is worth paying attention to the wheel arches and wheel arches since there is the most significant deposition of reagent dirt.
We recommend installing wheel arch liners – plastic panels that follow the contour of the wheel arches and protect the body from the adhesion of snow and salt.
Treat car rims often. They suffer no less than the car body from reagents. This is especially true for forged and alloy wheels. They should be treated at least once a week with a special anti-rust agent.
Pro-tip: Be sure to install the corresponding tyres in your vehicle. One good choice would be Falken RI151 because of its high-quality base rubber compound.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely protect an actively used car from the adverse effects of reagents. But it is entirely within your power to extend the life of some of its fragments. In short, in winter, you need to be fully armed and not experiment with the “health” of the car.
Otherwise, then it can result in a pretty penny.
