i'm pretty sure i have a busted ball joint but how can i tell?
i was turning into the alley last night and there was a loud pop in the driver side front suspension, and i didnt know what it was. Then when i left to go to school this morning, whenever i take a right turn, it pops repeatedly (frequency of pops proportional to speed) and the car kind of jumps. So i left it at home and bummed a ride. Then a friend told me to check the ball joints.
So how can i tell if that's what it is? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/confused.gif
any easy ways? or does it have to come apart?
thanks for any help

-Matt


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1971 Malibu 350/TH350 (soon to be 383/4 speed)
"DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!"

[This message has been edited by Matt Leuck (edited 10-04-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Matt Leuck (edited 10-04-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Matt Leuck (edited 10-04-2000).]

Matt,

Do NOT drive it until you've figured out the problem.

A broken ball joint should be readily apparent; the wheel/tire will have a very peculiar angle to it. Additionally, I suspect the car would be difficult to drive, if it can be driven at all.

If a ball joint did break, the part itself is inexpensive and can likely be found at nearly any parts store. However, if one was bad enough to break then the remaining 3 should also be suspect. If you don't do the work yourself then the real cost of having it (them) replaced is in the labor.

Suggest you jack it up, support it with jack stands, then look around underneath. Also, while it's up on stands, grab the tire at the top and bottom, push in at the top and pull at the bottom to see if there is any movement in the assembly - there should be next to zero.

Perhaps better in your case, have it TRASNPORTED to a front end shop and have them do an analysis.

Dan

[This message has been edited by ss3964spd (edited 10-04-2000).]

I agree with Dan.Don't drive it until you know what the problem is.
Check the driver's side stabilizer link bolt,it may have snapped. It connects the lower A arm to the stabilizer bar and when broken the stabilizer bar will pop every time it gets hung up. Just a guess,but if it is not that ,then have it checked out before driving it.

To check the ball joints, you need to support the vehicle under the lower control arm, any other place will not take the spring pressure off the joints. Once properly supported, grab the tire at the top and bottom and try to move back and forth. If it moves, determine where the slack is at.
Another possible problem could be that the shims between the upper control arm bushing rod and the frame may have come loose and fallen out, thus leaving some slop.
Either way, investigate before driving. More than likely, the balljoint did not break. They may have some slop but if they broke, the tire would be forced into the upper control arm or the lower control arm would be hard against the ground.
Tom