Bad ball joints symptoms
A ball joint is one of a component in suspension. It is used as the axis of rotation and the link between the tire and the car's suspension. The ball joint links the wheel housing (knuckle arm) with the upper arm, lower arm, lateral arm, and tie rod.
The ball joint function is very important for vehicles because it affects the steering angle of the wheels, such as camber, caster, toe-in, toe-out, kingpin inclination. The wheel's steering angle will affect comfort while driving. Yes, the wheel steering angle is made to move the vehicle comfortably, safely, and easily.
Over time, ball joints can also wear and tear. The most fatal can cause an accident (if the ball joint is separated from the fastening components when the car moves fast). A loose ball joint will directly affect the steering and running of the wheels.
Therefore, it is essential to anticipate the loss of the ball joint from the holder. Here are some of bad ball joint symptoms that we will felt. Check out the bad ball joint symptoms below.
1. Wheel steering angle changed
The first bad ball joint symptoms is the steering wheel angle changes. Although the change in the wheel's steering angle depends on the position and location of the bad ball joint, it also changes the entire wheel's steering angle.
As we have discussed in the types of ball joints in suspension articles, the ball joint names depend on the joint's position. There are at least six names of ball joints that we know, namely.
- Upper arm ball joint
- Lower arm ball joint
- Stabilizer joint
- Tie rod end ball joint
- Long tie rod ball joint
- Lateral arm ball joint
Each of the above ball joints can affect the steering angle of the wheel. Still, four main ball joints significantly affect the change in the steering angle of the wheel, namely:
- The upper arm and lower arm ball joint can affect camber angle, caster, and even kingpin inclination.
- Long tie rod and tie rod end will affect toe angle (in and out)
If one ball joint is bad, then the entire steering angle generally changes. Changes in the steering angle of the wheel can affect tire wear and comfort while driving. You will find excessive tire wear, uneven tire surface, bumpy tire surface that makes the tires wear out quickly.
2. Tires are worn out and bumpy
As mentioned in the first section above, changing steering angles can affect tire wear and comfort while driving. So, the bad ball joint symptoms that often occur next are worn-out and bumpy tires.
Yes, a bad ball joint will cause uneven wear on the tire; even the tire's surface can become bumpy. The following is the symptoms of a bad ball joint on changing the steering angle, which will affect tire wear:
- The camber, caster, and kingpin inclination steering angles will change when the ball joint is bad in the upper arm or lower arm. It can cause the tires to become sideways or the surface of the tires to be bumpy.
- The toe angle will change if the ball joint is bad at the outer tie rod end and inner tie rod. It can make the tires also wear-out on sideways or bumpy.
- If the ball joint is bad at the stabilizer joint, the change in the effect on the steering angle is not too large, but the driving stability will reduce.
3. The car becomes difficult to control
The next bad ball joint symptoms is that the car becomes difficult to control. Yes, a bad ball joint will change the steering angle. This condition also affects steering control when we are driving. It makes the car becomes more difficult to control.
Read also:The first thing we can feel is that the car's body feels swinging to the right or left. The car's movement will feel wild to the right or left when passing a speed bump (usually on the highway road just before entering the gate) or when we pass on a bumpy road.
The second thing that can be felt when the ball joint is bad is the car is pulled to the right or the left. It causes us to continuously correct the car by returning the steering wheel position to keep going straight. For long trips, this condition is very dangerous and very uncomfortable for the driver.
4. Appears clunking noise such as collision iron
The last thing that shows bad ball joint symptoms is the appearance of a clunking noise like metal clashing at the bottom of the vehicle's front. The clunking noise is very diverse, and the condition depends on the listener. But what is clear, the noise that appears feels like two pieces of iron hitting each other.
The majority, these noises will appear when we pass through an uneven or bumpy road. In addition, the sound of grinding like iron colliding also often appears when the vehicle turns.