Ball Joint Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
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Ball Joint Question
So, my simple job of replacing the wheel bearing turned into replacing the spindles and ball joints. Unfortunately, now I have an awful squeak when I turn the wheel hard to the left, especially at slow speeds.
I took the wheels off, removed the brakes and pretty much followed the shop manual for replacing the lower ball joints, spindle and wheel bearings. I torqued the lower joints to the listed 80 ft/lbs. I torqued the top ball joints to 50 ft/lbs as listed. I greased them through the nipple. I packed the new wheel bearings and added the grease dam in the cover when replacing the wheel.
Any thoughts on what is driving the squeak? Could I have not greased the joints enough? Does it take some time to work into the joints? I took it slowly around the block and checked to see if it pulled too badly, when I was satisfied my wheel wouldn't fall off I hit the highway. As I left the neighborhood started the drift, especially when I'd let off the gas and then the squeaking really got loud on turns.
Any advice?
I took the wheels off, removed the brakes and pretty much followed the shop manual for replacing the lower ball joints, spindle and wheel bearings. I torqued the lower joints to the listed 80 ft/lbs. I torqued the top ball joints to 50 ft/lbs as listed. I greased them through the nipple. I packed the new wheel bearings and added the grease dam in the cover when replacing the wheel.
Any thoughts on what is driving the squeak? Could I have not greased the joints enough? Does it take some time to work into the joints? I took it slowly around the block and checked to see if it pulled too badly, when I was satisfied my wheel wouldn't fall off I hit the highway. As I left the neighborhood started the drift, especially when I'd let off the gas and then the squeaking really got loud on turns.
Any advice?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
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Doesnt sound like anything to do with ball joint, more likely wheel bearing. What exactly did you do with respect to wheel bearings? Did you put any grease on the spindle where the inner race rides? Did you fully seat the outter race? You forced grease through one side of the needles till it came out the other side? How did you go about tightening the spindle nut?
Last edited by MelWff; Apr 17, 2013 at 02:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
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I greased the spindle before sliding the wheel back on. I did not put additional grease on the gasket that butts up directly to the spindle, but there was a lot of grease on the spindle itself. I put grease between the two bearings themselves. I believe I seated the outter race, it sealed tightly. The outer-most race with the grove for the spindle did not seem to have a grove to catch, but I thought it would be tighten when I tightened the castle nut.
To pack the grease I put grease in my hands and on my fingers and forced it through. It seemed to be coming out the other side and filling the middle. I thought the bearing was thoroughly greased, but I didn't use one of those grease packers to force it through. I suppose I might not have gotten enough grease in the actual bearings.
I tightened the castle nut while spinning the wheel, then added the clip through the castle nut. Could I have over tightened the wheel?
It's worse when turning (especially to the left & the work was all done on the driver's side) and doesn't seem to make much noise when driving straight, that isn't a wheel bearing issue? I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ I'm just curious what indicates it sounds like a wheel bearing issue to you?
To pack the grease I put grease in my hands and on my fingers and forced it through. It seemed to be coming out the other side and filling the middle. I thought the bearing was thoroughly greased, but I didn't use one of those grease packers to force it through. I suppose I might not have gotten enough grease in the actual bearings.
I tightened the castle nut while spinning the wheel, then added the clip through the castle nut. Could I have over tightened the wheel?
It's worse when turning (especially to the left & the work was all done on the driver's side) and doesn't seem to make much noise when driving straight, that isn't a wheel bearing issue? I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ I'm just curious what indicates it sounds like a wheel bearing issue to you?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
I greased the spindle before sliding the wheel back on. I did not put additional grease on the gasket that butts up directly to the spindle, but there was a lot of grease on the spindle itself. I put grease between the two bearings themselves. I believe I seated the outter race, it sealed tightly. The outer-most race with the grove for the spindle did not seem to have a grove to catch, but I thought it would be tighten when I tightened the castle nut.To pack the grease I put grease in my hands and on my fingers and forced it through. It seemed to be coming out the other side and filling the middle. I thought the bearing was thoroughly greased, but I didn't use one of those grease packers to force it through. I suppose I might not have gotten enough grease in the actual bearings.
I tightened the castle nut while spinning the wheel, then added the clip through the castle nut. Could I have over tightened the wheel?
It's worse when turning (especially to the left & the work was all done on the driver's side) and doesn't seem to make much noise when driving straight, that isn't a wheel bearing issue? I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ I'm just curious what indicates it sounds like a wheel bearing issue to you?
I tightened the castle nut while spinning the wheel, then added the clip through the castle nut. Could I have over tightened the wheel?
It's worse when turning (especially to the left & the work was all done on the driver's side) and doesn't seem to make much noise when driving straight, that isn't a wheel bearing issue? I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ I'm just curious what indicates it sounds like a wheel bearing issue to you?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Tightening the wheel nut while spinning the wheel is correct, however, you should back the nut off and insert the cotter pin in the first spot in the castle nut that you can. The wheel should spin freely. On a Vette, I like to put the wheel nut on and adjust it without the caliper or brake pads installed because the springs in the pistons will cause the pads to contact the rotor and cause drag. That makes it more difficult to tell if the wheel bearing is spinning freely.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
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you should back the nut off and insert the cotter pin in the first spot in the castle nut that you can.
So should I back it out to the absolute loosest it can be or just a turn or two until I can get the cotter pin in?
I'm still not convinced its the wheel bearing though. If that were the case wouldn't it squeak when driving straight? I mainly hear it squeak when turning, especially when stopped or driving slowly. It's primarily when at the extreme limits of the turn (to either side). That's what made me think ball joint, or perhaps power steering.
So should I back it out to the absolute loosest it can be or just a turn or two until I can get the cotter pin in?
I'm still not convinced its the wheel bearing though. If that were the case wouldn't it squeak when driving straight? I mainly hear it squeak when turning, especially when stopped or driving slowly. It's primarily when at the extreme limits of the turn (to either side). That's what made me think ball joint, or perhaps power steering.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
read this link, I would skip the 50 to 60 inch lb and just finger tighten as Chevy recommended. You are sure you dont have a rubber brake line rubbing against something when the wheel is fully turned?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-bearings.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-bearings.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
you should back the nut off and insert the cotter pin in the first spot in the castle nut that you can.
So should I back it out to the absolute loosest it can be or just a turn or two until I can get the cotter pin in?
I'm still not convinced its the wheel bearing though. If that were the case wouldn't it squeak when driving straight? I mainly hear it squeak when turning, especially when stopped or driving slowly. It's primarily when at the extreme limits of the turn (to either side). That's what made me think ball joint, or perhaps power steering.
So should I back it out to the absolute loosest it can be or just a turn or two until I can get the cotter pin in?
I'm still not convinced its the wheel bearing though. If that were the case wouldn't it squeak when driving straight? I mainly hear it squeak when turning, especially when stopped or driving slowly. It's primarily when at the extreme limits of the turn (to either side). That's what made me think ball joint, or perhaps power steering.
When you say this squeak is when you are stopped, it makes me think that it's the power steering pump. They all make noise if you turn it to the limit. If it quits when you turn the steering wheel back an inch or two then that is normal.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 37
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Thanks for the input. I'll check out the link on the wheel bearings, but I followed the Chevrolet shop repair manual as best I could.
The noise does stop when I back away from the limit. I may get the same noise, though lesser intensity when cornering on hard turns around35-40mph (havent goe faster yet since wanted to make sure I wasnt going to kill myself). So this is normal?
I was still planning on cleaning the p/s up to look for leaks and probably flush the fluid as well. I'm fairly new to working on vettes, but the last kid was a true bubba with no interest in doing it right. I don't know a lot yet, but I'm willing to learn and ask questions. I want to do things the right way, so I appreciate the help!
The noise does stop when I back away from the limit. I may get the same noise, though lesser intensity when cornering on hard turns around35-40mph (havent goe faster yet since wanted to make sure I wasnt going to kill myself). So this is normal?
I was still planning on cleaning the p/s up to look for leaks and probably flush the fluid as well. I'm fairly new to working on vettes, but the last kid was a true bubba with no interest in doing it right. I don't know a lot yet, but I'm willing to learn and ask questions. I want to do things the right way, so I appreciate the help!