The need for a ball joint replacement is important the moment that it has been realized. There are cases wherein these are left unnoticed until such time that it has taken a turn for the worst. The first signs of a problem with your suspension are when you notice a light clicking or tapping sound by the wheels as you back-out of your parking space. As you run a few miles, these sounds would seem to disappear. After a while, it comes back and would sound way louder than usual.
There are some car owners can identify the need for a ball joint replacement on their own. They would likely lift the wheel section with the problem using a jack. As they swivel it from left to right there would be no noticeable problem. However, when they swivel it from top to bottom, they will notice a gap that is not normal. This would mean that there is the highest probability that lubrication failure has occurred. While many ball joints are lubricated for the rest of its lifespan, there are always the chances of water to seep in to these small pockets that will cause corrosion and rust inside the joint.
Having a ball joint replacement may be a gruesome task if you do not have the proper tools. You can always opt to have this done in an auto shop and live with the warranty of the job. However, it is important that you get the exact part that you need for your vehicle. Some of these may look exactly similar yet will not fit and function as well. Determining this above all other things will give you the benefit of having peace of mind with the part installed.
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Que piensas
Hi,
I recently brought my car (2003 Acura TL A-Spec) for a simple oil change. Service department called me 1/2 hr later and said literally, “Your ball joints are in need of replacement, it is not safe to drive, we cannot release your car until you replace the ball joints? So I was forced to replace them.
I have 2 questions. 1) Can the dealer impose a “non-release” statement to scare you into having the job done at the dealership? and 2) With the job of the ball joint replacement, is it necessary to have the wheel alignment done as part of the procedure?