Did you know? In our cars, a little part called the ball joint acts as a “flexible joint” between the wheel and the body, allowing the wheel to steer and move up and down smoothly.
But ball joints will wear out or malfunction after a long time of use. So how do we know when to replace the ball joint?
First, let’s see what is a ball joint and the location of a ball joint, then we will know the symptoms of bad ball joints.
What is A Ball Joint?
A ball joint, in short, consists of a ball head, seat, dust cover, and other parts, and is a component that connects the wheel to the suspension.
The ball joint enables the wheels to rotate freely in different directions, thus meeting the steering and vibration-damping needs of the vehicle during driving.
When you turn the steering wheel, the steering force is transmitted to the ball joints through the tie rod end, which drives the wheels to turn, realizing the steering operation of the vehicle.
Where Are Ball Joints Located?
As we all know, there are upper and lower ball joints.
The lower ball joint connects the lower control arm to the steering knuckle, and the upper ball joint connects the upper control arm to the steering knuckle, all of them are parts of a vehicle’s suspension system.
They allow the front wheels to be able to turn to the left or right as directed by the steering system while the vehicle is in motion, and at the same time be able to move up and down as road conditions change.
Symptoms of Bad Ball Joints
When the ball joint is broken, the car will have problems.
- Strange sound: If you turn or drive, hearing “chick”, or “creak” such a sound, it may be the ball joints are telling you it is not comfortable.
- Abnormal steering wheel: If you find that the steering wheel itself “runs off”, braking, or turning when the steering wheel shakes, it may be the ball joints are loose or bad.
- Uneven tire wear: The one side is worn out, but the other side is still good. This is usually caused by ball joints problem, which leads to incorrect wheel alignment.
- Vehicle deviation: The vehicle runs straight on the road, but the steering wheel needs to be adjusted to keep it straight. It may be caused by ball joint misalignment.
- Oil leakage: Sometimes you will see oil stains near the wheels, it may be that the dust cover of the ball joint is broken and the oil inside is leaking out.
- Looseness: If you can feel a noticeable looseness or gap when you gently shake the wheel with your hand, the ball joint may need to be replaced.
If you’re driving and as soon as you notice any of the signs mentioned above, don’t hesitate to get it checked out and consider replacing it.
Ball Joint Brands
When you need to replace ball joints, what brand of ball joints you choose is crucial, here we recommend some ball joint brands from different countries, hopefully, it can help you save time!
The 555 brand has performed particularly well in Africa and Southeast Asia, mainly due to the high popularity of Japanese brand vehicles in these regions, which creates a strong demand for ball joints as original Japanese parts or high-quality replacement parts.
GDST, a leading ball joint manufacturer in China, has successfully won wide recognition and favor in South America, Middle East, and Southeast Asia markets with its competitive advantage of factory direct supply and excellent product quality, and its sales continue to rise.
CTR, as a representative of Korean ball joint brands, has followed the global wave of hot sales of Korean cars, and its ball joint products have also realized a significant increase in sales globally, complementing the market heat of Korean cars.
MOOG, as an American brand with a profound history, has not only firmly occupied a place in the global market, but also under its brand influence and product quality, MOOG ball joints have become popular worldwide, and have become the trustworthy choice of many car owners.
