Ball joints are the critical component of the front suspension that connect various links and allow them to move. Ball joints consist of a ball and socket similar to the hip joint of the human body. Ball joints of your front suspension provide pivoting movement between the steering knuckles and control arms to provide a safe, smooth ride and allow you to precisely control your vehicle.
Ball joints consist of a metal housing and a stud that can swing and rotate within the housing. Bearings inside the housing are placed between the ball stud and housing to help reduce wear and friction. The socket is filled with grease to provide lubrication, keep debris and water out of the socket, and maintain noise free operation. A rubber boot, located at the opening of the joint, keeps debris out and grease in. Lastly, the assembly is closed with a method such as the MOOG® pressed-in cover plate.
Many original equipment ball joints are designed as sealed units. If the protective boot fails, water and road debris will quickly cause wear and ball joint failure. Some aftermarket ball joints use an improved greaseable design that allows lubrication to flush out contaminants to extend the life of the joints.
In your vehicle, you’ll find two different types of ball joints – upper ball joints and lower ball joints. While each of these ball joints serve different functions but both work together to keep steering reliable and responsive.
Designed to maintain alignment and absorb radial loads, such as turning forces, upper ball joints enable proper rotation of steering knuckle. Upper ball joints use a follower design.
Acting as a pivot point for the steering system, lower ball joints can either be load-carrying or follower types depending on the suspension design. Lower ball joints use a variety of designs: compression loaded, tension loaded and follower.
In a short long arm (SLA) suspension system, compression- and tension-loaded ball joints are load carrying ball joints that support the vehicle’s weight. These ball joints typically wear faster due to the additional stress on the socket. In MacPherson strut suspension systems, the lower ball joint is a follower design. Although they do not support the weight of the vehicle, they receive loading during cornering and braking.
When you need to replace a ball joint, MOOG has a ball joint for the repair. MOOG ball joints include technologies to increase strength and durability, extend service life and improve ease of installation. They restore like-new steering with application-specific features such as patented pressed-in cover plate and integral dust boot, instilling confidence with each install.
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The content in this article is for informational purposes only. You should consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have questions relating to any of the topics covered herein. Tenneco will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.
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Ball joint failure isn’t a common problem, but can be the result of years of driving along bumpy, uneven road surfaces. A broken ball joint may be the cause of a mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. And once they’re worn, they will seriously affect your steering and suspension. If a ball joint fails completely, it can even result in the wheel dramatically falling off the car. A scary thought! But what are ball joints and when do you need to replace them?
Ball joints connect the car wheels to the suspension system, and allow them to move together. As the name suggests, these clever ball-and-sockets acts as a pivot, similar to the hip joint in the human body. Ball joints are made of a bearing stud and socket that fit snugly inside a lubricated casing. They connect the control arm to the steering knuckles and allow for smooth and solid movement in the suspension. The front suspension of most cars has at least lower ball joints and in some cases upper ones as well.
Ball joints deteriorate if dirt, grit and impurities get inside or grease escapes, leading to a lack of lubrication. Added to this, rusting and general wear and tear also damage these suspension parts. The effects of this deterioration are excessive play and looseness (beyond the manufacturer’s specifications). While healthy ball joints allow for smooth movement from side to side, they shouldn’t wiggle or jolt up and down. This is a clear indicator that you need to look into ball joint replacement.
If you suspect ball joint wear, the car should be inspected as soon as possible. Ball joint replacement is not straightforward, as they can be very tricky to access and install – especially with age and rust. On some cars, the ball joint is integrated into the control arm. If you’re not familiar with the suspension and wheel assembly, it’s best to visit a garage for a professional check.
Because ball joints can last a long time, they’re often forgotten! But they do wear out and won’t usually last as long as the vehicle. Remember that they work extra hard on bumpy, winding roads, so it depends on the vehicle’s mileage and the conditions it has been exposed to.
You will find that ball joints on each side of the car tend to have similar wear, which means it’s common to have them replaced in sets or matching pairs.
Yes! Not all ball joints are created equal. Parts that are made from premium materials with an innovative design have greater strength and durability. MOOG ball joints are made from superior compounds that are better able to cope with high temperatures, dirt and abrasion. The housings are forged from a single block of fine-grain alloy steel for greater strength.
TIP: Ball joint parts made from low-grade steel or using inferior heat treatment can lessen the price, but also reduce the lifetime of the part by up to 50%.
Ball joints play a major role in the steering and suspension of cars and can last a long time. However, driving on bad ball joints can cause major damage and total ball joint failure can be fatal. If you’re unsure about the condition of the ball joints in a car, then speak to a garage about good quality replacements.
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