[138code68]

Driving home from work and getting a grating sound from front of car when suspension moves up and down, thought I'de picked up a bit of road debris (maybe) stopped the car checked underside, nothing, got back in carried on about 2 miles later seemed to be getting worse now drivers side front wheel area crunching on braking stopped the car again and checked all around and underside still nothing, started off again thought to myself I will just take it steady slowly and limp home, (about 6-7 miles). Well much worse now so stopped the car and called AA road recovery. Guy came out looked the car over took wheel off front and we decided it was upper ball joint could see scuffing on inner rim of wheel. Low loader turned up and took me home, just as it came off the wagon the wheel colapsed and the joint separated. Phew I probably only had about another 20-30 feet of driving before the wheel would have come adrift in the street.
Moral of the story don't be lazy like me, make the effort and get yer grease gun out ........:thumbsup:

 

[buenymayor]

Dang.... you are lucky! Glad it all worked out for you.

 

[71350SS]

That upper BJ has been like that a long time,if you had greased that BJ it would have failed that much sooner,its just like when you add some penetrating oil to a rusted nut and bolt to get them to come apart easier.The only thing that would have helped with that worn out BJ would have been finding it during a safety inspection.

 

[nsnarsk]

That noise-problem didn't just start yesterday,

 

[138code68]

That noise-problem didn't just start yesterday,

''Is that right''
That noise problem (grating) started ''15 minutes'' before it failed, there may have been the odd clonk from the front end once in a while which could have been one of a number of things, cars got 160000 miles on it after all. Why would I not tell it like it was ? :noway:

 

[dogsridewith]

Car is what make/model/year?

 

[138code68]

Car is what make/model/year?

1992 S10 Blazer Tahoe ............:thumbsup:

 

[71350SS]

Nigel I'm sorry that that has happened to you but whoever did your MOT safety check totally missed that ball joint.To properly check for upper balljoint looseness (or play) the lower control arm must be supported with a jack or a jack stand.If this isn't done,they'll never see the looseness and "assume" its ok.That occasional "clunk" was most likely the noise a typical upper BJ makes.A clunking metallic sound while going over bumps and dips,the upper will load and unload as the suspension travels up and down and it tries to separate from itself.
If you compare the area that tore away to the area thats still intact you'll see the amount of wear that occured over time.It really was your lucky day the damage would have been much worse had you not stopped.

 

[138code68]

Nigel I'm sorry that that has happened to you but whoever did your MOT safety check totally missed that ball joint.To properly check for upper balljoint looseness (or play) the lower control arm must be supported with a jack or a jack stand.If this isn't done,they'll never see the looseness and "assume" its ok.That occasional "clunk" was most likely the noise a typical upper BJ makes.A clunking metallic sound while going over bumps and dips,the upper will load and unload as the suspension travels up and down and it tries to separate from itself.
If you compare the area that tore away to the area thats still intact you'll see the amount of wear that occured over time.It really was your lucky day the damage would have been much worse had you not stopped.

Thanks for the input John, much appreciated and your right in what you say about the MOT test. I am dissapointed in myself though as cars have been a big part of my life as a hobby and I should know better than to trust a third party to check my car as to its roadworthyness. So hands up I'm guilty of being lazy I guess coz its my daily, wouldn't happen to my Chevelle .......... I wrap her up in cotton wool and treat her with kid gloves ......... ''Must do better''
Take care ...:thumbsup:

 

[71350SS]

Thanks for the input John, much appreciated and your right in what you say about the MOT test. I am dissapointed in myself though as cars have been a big part of my life as a hobby and I should know better than to trust a third party to check my car as to its roadworthyness. So hands up I'm guilty of being lazy I guess coz its my daily, wouldn't happen to my Chevelle .......... I wrap her up in cotton wool and treat her with kid gloves ......... ''Must do better''
Take care ...:thumbsup:

Nigel,You shouldn't be so hard on yourself,part of the problem is checking the front suspension on a late model front wheel drive car is very different than an older RWD car or truck and most of the younger mech's are used to the more common Front WD late model cars.Even if your S10 Blazer is 4WD it's still a similar type front suspension as your Chevelle and if its a 2WD its almost identicle in design.What's usually called a short arm long arm front suspension.
To check the ball joints properly a jack or jackstand will be placed under the lower control arm and jacked up to similate the suspension under load.Then the Upper BJ can be checked for looseness or play by grabbing the top of the tire at 12 & the bottom at 6 o'clock and shaking the front end to feel or see what each BJ is doing.
I hope you replaced both UBJ's on your Blazer cause the opposite side may be just as worn.Take care .