Need help understanding front lower ball joints
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
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From: MA
Need help understanding front lower ball joints
I have some looseness in my steering and want to check the front suspension for wear. I looked up the lower front ball joints in my manual and it has a paragraph on how to visually check them for wear, but I think it is wrong. Here is the page:
Here is a picture of the bottom of the ball joint:
First, I don't have grease fitting. Secondly, in paragraph 6A and 6B, it mentions "this round housing projects 1.27 mm beyond the surface of the lower ball joint cover". Where is the round housing in the picture of my ball joint? It also mentions in 6B, "if the round housing is flush with or inside of the cover surface, replace the lower control arm." Where is the cover surface? I don't get how to visually see if the ball joint is worn.
Also, is the picture of the ball joint in the manual correct? The lower lower ball joint is a loaded joint with the shaft in tension (spindle sits above lower control arm) so spherical surface should be facing up, not down as shown. I am confused
Here is a picture of the bottom of the ball joint:
First, I don't have grease fitting. Secondly, in paragraph 6A and 6B, it mentions "this round housing projects 1.27 mm beyond the surface of the lower ball joint cover". Where is the round housing in the picture of my ball joint? It also mentions in 6B, "if the round housing is flush with or inside of the cover surface, replace the lower control arm." Where is the cover surface? I don't get how to visually see if the ball joint is worn.
Also, is the picture of the ball joint in the manual correct? The lower lower ball joint is a loaded joint with the shaft in tension (spindle sits above lower control arm) so spherical surface should be facing up, not down as shown. I am confused
Last edited by 01vetter; Jul 29, 2013 at 05:35 PM.
