Low ball joint - alignment

The lower ball joint allows the suspension to travel while keeping the wheel at a right angle to the pavement (along with the lower control arm it's mounted in). You shouldn't need an alignment for just a lower ball joint.

The other side of the coin is, you *did* replace a part in the steering/suspension. If you have had a recent alignment, it was done with worn parts and may need to be checked. Some garages will do this for free or a nominal charge.

The lower ball joint carries a portion of the vehicle's weight on it and obviously it facilitates steering the vehicle. ANYTIME you replace a ball joint or control arm bushings or steering components, the job is NOT finished until an alignment is done. This goes for ALL vehicles.

I don't think I have ever seen an aftermarket part match up exactly with a factory part.

I don't think the bolt holes are even exact enough or tight enough (no slop at all) to match any alignment with the old (maybe worn out) parts specs.

How much are your front tires worth?

Mike

Matt wrote:

----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip®" Newsgroups: alt.autos.toyota.trucks,alt.autos.toyota.camry,alt.autos.toyota,rec.autos.te ch Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 9:29 PM Subject: Re: Low ball joint - alignment

I definitely have to agree with this.

I replaced a power steering rack on a Canadian XJ12 one time (thank God only once) and told the owner that he *must* go get an alignment if he wanted the car to be safe and to drive properly. I purposely left the steering wheel askew as a reminder..... the bonehead came back to the shop a year later with the steering wheel in the same position. "Did you get an alignment after I installed that steering rack?," I asked...

"A What?"