Horrific Ball Joint Squeeking

[northcave]

Ball joint on my Drivers side suspension is outragiously noisey when turning the steering wheel. Especially when doing short hard turns in and out of a parking space. Any ideas on making this noise go away without a full re-fit job?

Ok so a ball joint isn't a big deal but when i had the left side done only 4 weeks ago, the bolts holding the suspension arm were seized and therefore had to be cut, hence a new arm was needed. The total inc labour came to best part of £400 just for one flipping ball joint.

Tim

 

[IAN MAC]

If you ask me, any decent mechanic should be able to change a seized ball joint without damaging the arm its mounted to..!!!!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Are you sure its the ball joint? My W210 started squealing (brake squeal) yesterday on left turns, checked things today and this is what we found:

(check out the worn ARB bush, that's being replaced on a sunny day soon)

That was the nearside. The offside was fine but we replaced both anyway.

£18 a side from ECP and the noise has gone. Replacement took about 10 minutes per side, 22mm spanner, big hammer on the side to loosen it up (we didn't have a splitter), job done. The ball joints were done a couple of years back so I think they're fine.

 

[BlackC55]

Ball joint on my Drivers side suspension is outragiously noisey when turning the steering wheel. Especially when doing short hard turns in and out of a parking space. Any ideas on making this noise go away without a full re-fit job?

Ok so a ball joint isn't a big deal but when i had the left side done only 4 weeks ago, the bolts holding the suspension arm were seized and therefore had to be cut, hence a new arm was needed. The total inc labour came to best part of £400 just for one flipping ball joint.

Tim

All of what you is saying makes sense as the bolts DO seize and the BJ's do make a noise when knckered. Get it replaced asap as I have seen them snap and it causes alot of damage.

Your car is not young anymore and the bolts do always undo easily.

 

[northcave]

Thanks. I squirted some wd40 at them and its stopped the noise but i see what you mean. Its one thing having a bush go but when a BJ relates to steering it probably needs sorting sharpish.

 

[star]

If you have the proper tools, the job can be done in situ. No need to remove arm or siezed bolts.