[dGrabber]

It's been a while...
My car makes a real weird knock sound whenever I steer at real slow speeds. I'm assuming my ball joints have gotten worser. How hard are they to install?

Also, where could I get a good deal on them?
Maybe I'll even try to post a vid of the sound tomorrow so someone on here can help me diagnose the problem. It just really doesn't feel safe to drive, that's how bad it sounds inside the car. Kinda feels like the wheels slip a bit when turning.

Help... please??

[Rich J]

Bad ball joints squeak like crazy when they are going bad, not a high pitched squeak either its like a low pitched annoyin noise. Closest thing I can compare it to would be the noise of a door opening slowly in a scary movie lol. If they are going bad, don't drive your car. Just bring it to a shop. You don't want them to fail while you are driving. Happened to me while I was driving and my control arm wedged itself into the spokes of my passenger side rim while I was going 30mph, brought me to a dead stop. Now picture that happening while your on the highway, you will most likely flip the car.

Now you can do the install yourself if you have a ball joint press but I heard doing it is a pain. So might as well just go to a shop and have it done, will get done faster with less headaches.

[dGrabber]

Thanks man!
Whenever I decide to park my car, I may take a vid.
I'm def trusting my instincts and I'm not gonna drive it.
Reason it may be so bad now is because I knew they were going bad, but I have not had any time to get it fixed. Earlier today, passenger wheel rubbed badly on the curb of my driveway and ever since, it sounds terrible!

[BlueScreaM]

Raise it up on jack stands and see if the wheel wiggles and makes a noise. That will indicate if there bad.

[dGrabber]

Originally Posted by Ahoboscheese Raise it up on jack stands and see if the wheel wiggles and makes a noise. That will indicate if there bad.

Thanks dude, will see when the sun rises.

[SALEEN961]

For me ball joints have always made a popping or clunking sound. Most noticably when hitting a bump or when turning the wheel. Normally if I suspect bad ball joints while sitting still in a parking lot I'll turn the wheel a little one way and then a little the other, and when I change directions you can it hear it pop. This test will also indicate bad tierod ends, so I'll have someone reach under the car and touch the tierod ends and ball joints when I do this so they can tell me which one they feel popping back and forth.

[dGrabber]

Originally Posted by SALEEN961 For me ball joints have always made a popping or clunking sound. Most noticably when hitting a bump or when turning the wheel. Normally if I suspect bad ball joints while sitting still in a parking lot I'll turn the wheel a little one way and then a little the other, and when I change directions you can it hear it pop. This test will also indicate bad tierod ends, so I'll have someone reach under the car and touch the tierod ends and ball joints when I do this so they can tell me which one they feel popping back and forth.

I'm gonna upload a video in a bit. Maybe that'll help.

[dGrabber]

YouTube - Ball Joints??

YouTube - Ball Joints??

[SALEEN961]

It sounds like something is binding up, my joints have always worn out and gotten loose but if the boots were bad water could leak in and start to rust the joint making it tight. It sounds like whatever is making that noise is under pressure and the ball joint is the only thing I can think that would be, and demon 54 seems to have seen them fail this way before.

[dGrabber]

Replacing whole lower control arm would be in my favor says the ball joint king
Thank God for good people!

[Macunicorn]

Originally Posted by dGrabber Replacing whole lower control arm would be in my favor says the ball joint king Thank God for good people!

Mine were going out and I picked the 03-04 FRPP cobra units with new bushings and balljionts installed.

Speed Concepts - M-3075-D - 2003-2004 Cobra Front Lower Control Arms Kit for all 1994-2004 Mustang GT/V6/Bullitt/Mach1/Cobra

Hope this helps.

[desertt5]

You can jack up the front end, take a long pry bar under the front wheel and "pry" it up while someone watches the ball joint. If they are loose/ worn you will see the play in them.