Why Replacing Balljoints in Sets Might be a Good Idea

I agree with you, but on the flip side, if a tech recommends complete replacement, as often as not he'll get "just replace what's actually bad" as a response.

At the very least I'd replace both on the same side to combine labor, but that's just me. On a VW, I'd replace the ball joints whenever servicing the struts, because a) they're dirt cheap and b) I'd need an alignment anyway.

nate

"Chris F." wrote in news:4bde0e30$0$12418$ snipped-for-privacy@news.aliant.net:

That's only 227,000 miles.

That's only 30mph.

It will be a lot cheaper than you think.

I don't think that's likely. Normally the inner CV joint pulls apart, leaving the tripod housing in the diff.

The brake hose has /just/ enough slack to survive this trauma. The tire is probably damaged, though, as is possibly the paint on the fender.

A broken balljoint is unlikely to kill anyone, even at 50mph.

Here's my personal experience, along with some others':

Happened to me with my '67 VW Squareback. Doing 35mph in the city. Right front lower. Luckily the thing jerked itself over into an empty bus stop as I laid on the brakes, just past a line of cars waiting to get plowed into. And nothing was FUBAR except the right tie rod. Transaxle in rear. I had noticed the suspension felt funny going over bumpy roads shortly before it broke, but that was my first - and last - suspension failure. Now I have a competent suspension man check it out every couple years, or ANY time the suspension feels the least bit squirrely. I've done lowers on a couple of my cars/truck, but never uppers. Always did both sides. No sense taking a chance, especially on an older car. When that ball joints goes, you're at the mercy of luck. At speed, there's a good chance of flipping. That's what you think when it happens to you. "What if I'd been doing 70?" Or, "What if it hadn't happened by an empty bus stop?"

--Vic

Stuff where there is a left and a right, when 1 goes, I replace both as a matter of course. A good garage would make that a policy. I've said for years, Stuff That Can Kill You is NOT the place to cut corners. Brakes, tires, suspension all fall in that category. If engine or tranny goes, you may be stranded, but you are unlikely to be dead, unless you happen to be in the center lane of a 6-8 lane highway at the time. If stuff that is attached to the wheels goes, you can be upside down rather unexpectedly.

From the pic the only parts I see that likely have to be replaced are the lower ball joint, the tire (have the rim checked for true running as well) front valance/bumper cover. Replace the entire half shaft just in case it got tweaked.

Hard to see in the picture.

I'd replace it just to be sure the inner liner didn't get screwed up. Don't want to have a mystery locking caliper.

All depends on the speed and what the reaction of the driver is. On a road with little traffic and an open lane it isn't much of a problem.

On the beltway around DC during rush hour? All bets are off....

aemeijers wrote in news:TJydnai4aq3gt0PWnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

A broken lower balljoint on a Honda does nothing more than strand you.

By now, I've seen enough of these incidents to conclude that Honda designed it that way. Even the brake hose never gets damaged.

Have seen this before....

We would assume that this was one of the old balljoints which was deemed in good shape by the mechanic?

IMO, that is a lot of mileage on balljoints, no matter who makes them.

I have seen worn balljoints throw cars into almost uncontrollable shudder, particularly in some cornering situations. As everybody else has posted, these are critical items and should be given due importance.

My folks have their car back now, the total damages came to about $700 including the tow job. They needed a new tire, balljoint, transaxle, brake hose, and differential gear(s). Yes it could have been worse, but $700 isn't exactly pocket change, especially for low-income people like us. I now plan to replace balljoints on my own vehicle after every 250,000km (or sooner if necessary, of course), to prevent something like from happening. With my luck I'd probably be doing 130 in rush-hour traffic at the time.....