ball joints bad?
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From: Erie,Pa
ball joints bad?
going over bumps and steering left and right my 99 Expy EB making creaking noise which is getting louder. Drives fine but makes noise? what you all think? How much would it cost to repair? Thanks
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: north carolina
Could be ball joints. Could be other suspension creaks and groans. Sometimes, a tip-off to bad ball joints is tire cupping. Jack it up so a front tire is just off the ground. Stick a crowbar under the tire and lift up, while watching or feeling for any slop in the ball joint. If there's any noticeable slop, then its probably time for a change. These heavy vehicles are pretty rough on suspension.
Upper and lower ball joint jobs can be pretty expensive, primarily due to the labor costs. You're probably looking at $200 in parts and $400 in labor. You'll need an alignment afterwards, too.
Upper and lower ball joint jobs can be pretty expensive, primarily due to the labor costs. You're probably looking at $200 in parts and $400 in labor. You'll need an alignment afterwards, too.
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From: Erie,Pa
Thanks for the reply. It goes in tomorrow. I think it may be driver's side ball joint (lower). Sway bar links look good. Really creaks and grones over bumps but no noise in am when damp outside. When temp heats up during day noise gets louder. Also makes creaks/grones when steering right/left. Just turning 100K and ball joints have not been touched.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: north carolina
You definitely want to replace with ball joints that have zerk fittings. I know that Moog ball joints have fittings. Also, the stock upper control arm and ball joint is an assembly. So, the first time, you have to replace the upper control arm, too. But, Moog offers an upper control arm with a replaceable ball joint, so that only the ball joint would need replacing the next time required. A shot or two of grease every other oil change makes sense.
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From: 0,0,1
Yeah grease is good, but watch out for the quick lube places not doing it. With my work van I use to bring it into the quick lube every 3,000 miles for the lube, oil, and filter deal. Last winter I had to change all four of my very dry, no grease in them, ball joints. Obviously they weren't greasing anything like they were being paid to.
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From: Erie,Pa
Just talked to my mechanic and he said he can't figure out if its upper or lower but definitely noise is on the drivers side. He spun both by hand and they are free. Told me to drive it a while longer until problem gets worse. Said there was no safety risk driving it. What do you guys think?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
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I recently replaced a lower ball joint on the passenger side for the second time as it was creaking anytime the truck moved. The first one had a grease zerk but the ball joint for whatever reason stopped accepting grease.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: north carolina
SBastow, yes, that would be an interesting answer. What did he spin by hand? Impossible to do without removing the crown nut and the upper control arm and/or the tie rod end from the ball joints. And, even if that's the case, if you could spin the post, I would take that as a pretty good indicator that it was shot.
C_honensee, I have seen zerk fittings stop up from infrequent lubrications. The grease "hardens" in the fitting, preventing new grease from being pushed to the ball joint. Northern Tools has a tool for this very problem. But, I've also removed and cleaned or replaced the zerk fitting to fix.
C_honensee, I have seen zerk fittings stop up from infrequent lubrications. The grease "hardens" in the fitting, preventing new grease from being pushed to the ball joint. Northern Tools has a tool for this very problem. But, I've also removed and cleaned or replaced the zerk fitting to fix.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
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It can be dangerous if the ball joint fails, you wil loose the ability to steer the vehicle.
If you are at speed this can be a bad situation for not only you but cars and pedestrians around you.
Having said that I bet he meant that he spun the tires and shook them to see if there was any excessive play - but check to be sure!
If you are at speed this can be a bad situation for not only you but cars and pedestrians around you.
Having said that I bet he meant that he spun the tires and shook them to see if there was any excessive play - but check to be sure!
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From: Erie,Pa
update
Drivers side upper and lower were shot. Also drivers side inner/outer tie rod ends shot!!! Passenger side outer tie rod end shot!!!!. Now my wallet is shot. After work I'm shooting a few beverages down. Peace