Solved: upper ball joints

Showing posts with label upper ball joints. Show all posts

Sunday, December 11, 2011

How to Replace upper and Lower Ball joints?

"Have you ever seen a vehicle where the tires go all the way up into the fenderwell? That's what happens when ball joints fail. The entire front end falls onto the tires."
Most likely your suspension will suffer damage and your car will become uncontrollable, fine at 5mph but at 60mph+ you could seriously injure yourself or someone else.Don't drive the car until its repaired.

So if ball joint is failed,then it has to be tested/inspected then replaced.

For ball joint testing inspecting procedure,check the link mentioned below :----

How to Test Upper and Lower Ball Joint?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-test-lower-ball-joint.html

How to inspect Upper and Lower Ball joint?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-inspect-lower-ball-joint.html

How to Service Upper and Lower Ball Joints on Car?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-service-lower-ball-joints-on-car.html

If its tested faulty,then ball joint has to be replaced.In that case follow the procedure mentioned below.

Removing Ball Joint Tapers from the Steering Knuckle:---

The ball joint is connected to the steering knuckle with a tapered connection, called a steering taper, which is also used in other steering connections.

See the diagram shown below for better understanding.

A ball joint taper. Courtesy of Moog Automotive, Inc.

To remove a ball joint requires the use of a ball joint remover.

Another way of "breaking" the taper is to use a large hammer.

First, remove the cotter pin from the ball joint nut and loosen the nut several turns.
Position the vehicle so that the coil spring is pushing on the ball joint. This could require lifting the vehicle or allowing its weight to rest on the wheels.
Use a hammer to pound sharply on the steering knuckle on the outside of the taper. this will deform the taper and spring pressure will separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

Removing the Ball Joint from the Control Arm

A ball joint can be retained by one of several methods.You can try which ever suits your car model ball joint.

The help diagram is shown below:-----

Three common ball joint retaining methods.
Some ball joints are held in with rivets from the factory. The rivets are drilled and punched to remove them. Bolts and nuts are used to hold the replacement joint in place.

See below the help diagram:-----

Original equipment rivets are replaced with nuts and bolts.

The most common method is press fit. Some manufacturers require you to replace the entire control arm assembly if a ball joint is to be replaced. In these cases, the ball joint and control arm are made as a single assembly and individual parts are not available.
If the control arm has been removed from the vehicle, a pressed-fit ball joint can be removed using a standard hydraulic press. when the control arm is still on the car, a special press set allows the removal and replacement of these ball joints. some pressed-fit ball joints have a spot weld that holds them in place. this must be carefully removed. when a replacement ball joint is installed, a snap ring often takes the place of the weld.

NOTE:-----
Be sure the grease release hole in the new ball joint's rubber boot is aimed away from the brakes.

This details will help you.

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If you need dis-assembly or replacement instructions for any other auto/car part, or you want to ask question related to your car/truck jeep problem then please leave the comment with your details, so I can provide you the required instructions and solutions.

For more car related problem troubleshooting:---

This are the sections, you can go through and click the link to read its troubleshooting.

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The car will not start?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/car-will-not-start.html

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Car will not crank?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/car-will-not-crank.html

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Car has no spark?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/car-has-no-spark.html

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How to troubleshoot car battery?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-troubleshoot-car-battery.html

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How to test starter solenoid?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-test-starter-solenoid.html

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How to test cars starter?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-test-cars-starter.html

How to replace starter in car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-replace-starter-in-car.html

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car will turn over but will not start?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/05/car-will-turn-over-but-will-not-start.html

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Car wont start?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/10/car-wont-start.html

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How to Test Car Ball Joints?

Before replacing Ball joint,its necessary to check the ball joints.To inspect ball joint,click the link below :----
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-inspect-lower-ball-joint.html

For testing the ball joint the procedure is as follows :----

To find out if the ball joint is loose beyond manufacturer's specifications, use an accurate measuring device. Most load carrying ball joints have a wear limit of 0.060" of vertical movement. But some joints can have as much as 0.200" movement and still be within specified limits.
The following checking procedures demonstrate the use of a dial indicator. The dial indicator is a precision instrument and should be handled carefully to prevent damage. The mounting procedure for the checking tool might vary depending on the style of ball joint used on the vehicle. Manufacturer's tolerances can be axial (vertical), radial (horizontal), or both. To conduct these checks, follow these procedures.
Typical Radial Check
For a radial check, attach a dial indicator to the control arm of the ball joint being checked. position and adjust the plunger of the dial indicator against the edge of the wheel rim nearest to the ball joint being checked. slip the dial ring to the zero marking. move the wheel in and out and note the amount of ball joint radial looseness registered on the dial.

Typical mounting of a dial indicator for a radial check. Courtesy of Moog Automotive, Inc.
Measuring the Lower Ball Joint Radial Movement on a MacPherson Strut Front Suspension

Raise the front suspension with a floor jack and place jackstands under the chassis at the vehicle's lift points.

Grasp the front tire at the top and bottom and rock the tire inward and outward while a friend visually checks for movement in the front wheel bearing. If there is movement, adjust or replace the wheel bearing.

Position a dial indicator against the inner edge of the rim at the bottom. Preload and zero the dial indicator.
Grasp the bottom of the tire and push outward.
With the tire held outward, read the dial indicator.

Pull the bottom of the tire inward and be sure the dial indicator reading is zero. Adjust the dial indicator as required.

Grasp the bottom of the tire and push outward.

With the tire held in this position, read the dial indicator.

If the dial indicator reading is more than specified, replace the lower ball joint.

Typical Axial Check
For an axial check, first fasten the dial indicator to the control arm, then clean off the flat on the spindle next to the ball joint stud nut. Position the dial indicator plunger on the flat of the spindle and depress the plunger approximately 0.350 inch. Turn the lever to tighten the indicator in place. Pry the bar between the floor and tire. Record the reading.

Typical mounting of a dial indicator for an axial check.
If the ball joint looseness reading on the dial indicator exceeds manufacturer's specifications, the ball joint should be replaced. When the load-carrying ball joints are on the upper control arm (spring mounted on the upper arm), raise the vehicle by its frame using support tools to unload the ball joints and hold them in their normal position. To determine the condition of the nonload-carrying (or follower) ball joint, vigorously push and pull on the tire, while watching the ball joint for signs of movement.

This details will help you.

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For more car help solutions,see the list below :---

For more car related problem troubleshooting:---

This are the sections, you can go through and click the link to read its troubleshooting.

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