RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/7/2006 6:16:53 AM
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lunatic_magnet
Posts: 202
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: sideways in turn 4
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holy moley ive never seen a ball joint that bad before. damn!
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/7/2006 7:07:36 AM
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DetroitMuscle
Posts: 829
Joined: 2/22/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mandi
How do you know if they are STARTING to go bad? I know what the end result is with them being so beat up. My question is...Should they be replaced every year? Every 6 years? Or are they something you change out even if they ARENT bad?
Change em when they go bad, they will make noise when its on its way out but like i said before with our vehicles they make noise for a long time before they snap. I dont know what makes em go bad, mines only 14 years old and my previous car was 27 years old and still had all the original suspension still in place. All I know is they make noise for a while before they go.
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/7/2006 9:37:46 PM
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DetroitMuscle
Posts: 829
Joined: 2/22/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mandi
How do you know if they are STARTING to go bad? I know what the end result is with them being so beat up. My question is...Should they be replaced every year? Every 6 years? Or are they something you change out even if they ARENT bad?
They make noise, they just wont snap on you immediately.
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/7/2006 9:47:01 PM
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mandi
Posts: 38
Joined: 5/3/2006
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So they wouldnt go bad in two years? I just want to not worry about my wheel going into the fender. Seeing the ones that came off makes me wonder how durrable they really are. Its kinda bizzar to me that one part holds the wheel where it needs to be and that part just falls apart. WOW!!
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1998 Chevy Blazer, manual, 2 door
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/8/2006 12:26:07 AM
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20Blazer00
Posts: 862
Joined: 9/16/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mandi
So they wouldnt go bad in two years? I just want to not worry about my wheel going into the fender. Seeing the ones that came off makes me wonder how durrable they really are. Its kinda bizzar to me that one part holds the wheel where it needs to be and that part just falls apart. WOW!!
Only if you don't get them lubed at least every oil change. Generally the factory ball joints don't come with fittings to grease them but at the first oil change someone should have had fittings put in....factory thinks these parts can go without grease but that is only the bean counters trying to get you in their Service Centers to replace them.
A lot of it depends on who they get there OEM parts from and their standards of quality. As the old computer saying goes "Garbage in - Garbage out", well at least they don't have the same problem that Chrysler had with their Ram Pickups and Durango SUV's those had upper ball joints that would fail without warning. They had to recall a bunch of trucks...
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Mark
2000 Blazer LS 4dr 4.3L Auto
1999 Grand Am 3.4L 4dr SE2 - Traded
2000 Honda Odyssey 3.5L 5dr Mini-Van
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/8/2006 7:38:58 AM
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DetroitMuscle
Posts: 829
Joined: 2/22/2006
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Speaking two different styles here, Im a 1st gen and they are able to be greased but seem to go thru the grease too fast, I had mine greased a week ago and there are no tears in the boots and its empty again.
I am converting to Moog sealed ones this weekend. For a few extra bucks its the best choice you got.
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/8/2006 7:47:44 AM
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mandi
Posts: 38
Joined: 5/3/2006
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Are there ones out there that you dont have to grease? I had a guy check mine on his lift last night and they are loose so times a comming to change them again.
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1998 Chevy Blazer, manual, 2 door
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/8/2006 9:50:10 PM
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mandi
Posts: 38
Joined: 5/3/2006
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Thank you everyone with info and not lauphing at me :)
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1998 Chevy Blazer, manual, 2 door
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/9/2006 2:09:31 AM
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Hanr3
Wheels & Tire Moderator
Posts: 3482
Joined: 5/11/2005
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No sweat mandy, we were all in your shoes once before too.
_____________________________
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The Marines don't have that problem."
-President Ronald Reagan
'87 S10-Blazer - SOLD
'93 S10-Blazer 4x4x4 - Sons DD, engine swap is done.
'00 S10-Blazer 4x4x4 - My
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 9/9/2006 8:40:01 AM
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Aquahallic
Posts: 130
Joined: 7/25/2006
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well I have one popping... confirmed it yesterday... I pulled into a parking space in the garage at work that has walls on both sides so I can hear EVERYTHING REAL GOOD went to back out... and heard it... AND felt it under my left foot... on a 95 blazer what all is gonna have to come off to get to the ball joints on here and do I have to unload the tortion bars and all??
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Aqua
95 Blazer LT 4WD
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 4/23/2008 9:03:44 AM
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Psychropod
Posts: 338
Joined: 5/23/2007
From: Baltimore, MD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Hanr3
First off.
NEVER and I MEAN NEVER, EVER, WORK UNDER A VEHICLE ON A JACK!!!!!!!!!!!
I see a jack stand in the 1st pic, NOT IN USE. Only takes one little slip and that truck would have fallen on someones head. That would have been a prime Darwin award winner. Please tell me the another jack stand was in use just of out the pic.
Hanr, I was thinking the same thing when I saw the pix! LMAO
But seriously, it wouldn't have been funny if something had happened. One of my friends is dead today because he worked under his car without stands. And yes, I did see that you guys did use one. Even so, it can't hurt to remind people again to use good safety procedures.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Aquahallic
well I have one popping... confirmed it yesterday... I pulled into a parking space in the garage at work that has walls on both sides so I can hear EVERYTHING REAL GOOD went to back out... and heard it... AND felt it under my left foot... on a 95 blazer what all is gonna have to come off to get to the ball joints on here and do I have to unload the tortion bars and all??
So if they're going bad, they make a popping noise? When does this happen? While braking? Randomly? I need to know, because I think mine is making some weird noises, but I don't know if it's because of the ball joints. I know this thread is old, but it's the most recent one on the subject that actually has a little detail on how to replace them. Thanks to everybody for any help you may have.
< Message edited by Psychropod -- 4/23/2008 9:19:58 AM >
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Raphael
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 5/1/2008 10:21:31 PM
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Hanr3
Wheels & Tire Moderator
Posts: 3482
Joined: 5/11/2005
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They like to pop around corners, through pot holes, while braking, anytime there is a change in directional force and you hear a pop. Tiime to replace them. They will last a while so its not typically an immediate thing, like hte next day, but within the month.
Typically the early warning signs is cracks in the rubber boots. Failure to add grease will lead to premature failure as well. My '93 has the original ball joints and it has 211,000 miles. My '00 has the original ball joints and it has 155,000 miles. Proper maintenance and avoidning the big pot holes does wonders for suspension parts. change that wheel backspacing or do a torsion bar crank to fit bigger tires will also eat ball joints. But hey, its only money right.
_____________________________
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The Marines don't have that problem."
-President Ronald Reagan
'87 S10-Blazer - SOLD
'93 S10-Blazer 4x4x4 - Sons DD, engine swap is done.
'00 S10-Blazer 4x4x4 - My
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RE: Reaplcing Ball Joints - 5/2/2008 4:51:46 AM
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mr.vls
Posts: 94
Joined: 4/2/2008
Status: offline
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If you know you have bad ball joints i would replace them at the earliest opportunity. You never know when you are going to have a catastrophic failure. If a ball joint break you will lose control of the vehical and crash. It may be at slow speed but you might be going 80 MPH on the interstate. My dad had a ball joint break going 30 mph and crashed into a parked car. No injuries at the time but you are taking chances when you are driving with a known faulty ball joint.
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1989 S15 Jimmy (DD) with 388K Miles, GM Factory Rebuilt Engine/Tras. New Paint, Headliner, all Suspension Bushings, Eddlebrock Waterpump/Shocks, Pioneer Head Unit/Speakers. Vehical is in Great Shape. Original Owner.
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