Ball Joints...

[SilthDraeth]

So I had one mechanic say my ball joints where going in my crown vic.

I had another mechanic say they have no play and are completely solid.

Is there any way to check them myself besides jacking up a side of the car and yanking on the tire?

I already bought the replacements a while back, but it will still cost me around 400 in labor to get them installed and an alignment done. I don't really have the money for that, but I also would rather get them replaced before they break.

Unless of course, having them break wouldn't damage anything else, then I figure I won't worry about it until I plan to make a long trip.

Thanks.

 

[NutBucket]

If you notice any odd vibrations when driving or unusual vagueness in the steering wheel then you should look into the ball joints. In general you'll notice something is off while driving long before they fail.

 

[hdfxst]

how did the second guy jack the car up?if you don't unload the spring pressure a bad ball joint will look good.

 

[SilthDraeth]

how did the second guy jack the car up?if you don't unload the spring pressure a bad ball joint will look good.

Guessing with a floor jack. How do you unlooad the spring pressure? Jack it up, Let the wheel hang down, then compress the spring?

To me the car drives like a dream, doesn't feel wobbly or anything. No weird vibrations, etc.

 

[wirednuts]

sometimes it can be very hard to diagnose bad ball joints. i had a lower one that even when i took it out it felt pretty tight still... i didnt think there was anything wrong with it, but i put the new one in and it made a huge difference in how that side handled bumps. there must have been some sort of up and down play but not side to side.

and i also think with balljoints, the ball is harder then the socket its in... so thats constantly beating it outward. plus they can get hot during summer driving which also makes the sockets expand, causing more play while youre driving... and when you get it to a shop they cool off and shrink tighter... making it hard to figure out whats wrong.

 

[allanon1965]

there is no one method for checking ball joints,

if your car has a macpherson strut style of suspension(coil spring around the strut), the tires need to hang in order to properly diagnose the ball joints...

if it has the coil spring between the lower control arm and frame, then the lower control arm must be supported as close to the ball joint as possible to check the ball joints

if the coil spring is mounted between the upper control arm and the frame, then the upper control arm needs to be supported by a 2x4 or similar item to let the ball joints be checked.

shake the wheels by holding them first at 9 and 3 oclock....then 6 and 12 and finally at 8 and 2

many ball joints pass the first 2 shakes only to show up at the 8 and 2 shake...the point is not to give it 1 shake and call it good if it passes.

 

[SilthDraeth]

there is no one method for checking ball joints,

if your car has a macpherson strut style of suspension(coil spring around the strut), the tires need to hang in order to properly diagnose the ball joints...

if it has the coil spring between the lower control arm and frame, then the lower control arm must be supported as close to the ball joint as possible to check the ball joints

if the coil spring is mounted between the upper control arm and the frame, then the upper control arm needs to be supported by a 2x4 or similar item to let the ball joints be checked.

shake the wheels by holding them first at 9 and 3 oclock....then 6 and 12 and finally at 8 and 2

many ball joints pass the first 2 shakes only to show up at the 8 and 2 shake...the point is not to give it 1 shake and call it good if it passes.

Thank you. Time to find out what kind of suspension an 05 Crown Vic police interceptor has.

 

[hdfxst]

Guessing with a floor jack. How do you unlooad the spring pressure? Jack it up, Let the wheel hang down, then compress the spring?

To me the car drives like a dream, doesn't feel wobbly or anything. No weird vibrations, etc.

if the spring is above the tire jack it up from the frame,if it's below the top of the tire jack it up from the lower control arm

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

could always just get a 3rd opinion. 2 out of 3 for the win

 

[NutBucket]

Choice 4: Wait for the wheels to fall off

 

[Billb2]

Unless of course, having them break wouldn't damage anything else...
Thanks.

Nothing else, except maybe a brake line and whatever you hit when the car goes completely out of control. No steering and possibly no brakes.

 

[allanon1965]

if it has the coil spring between the lower control arm and frame, then the lower control arm must be supported as close to the ball joint as possible to check the ball joints

this is the method for your Crown Vic

we have had a number of these in the shop with broken lower ball joints...they take out the brake hose sometimes and almost always cause body damage to the inner and outer fenders, particularly by the lower edge of the front door...sometimes making it impossible to open the door without further damaging the front fender and door...

bottom line, change them before they break...

 

[SilthDraeth]

Ok thanks for all the input. Reading over how to do it myself. I believe I have uppers with control arms and lowers by themselves. All moog.