lower ball joints - why so bad?

[Quickstop [UK]]

My truck went for inspection yesterday and failed, amongst other things, for its ball joints.

I did a bit of reading up on here first but didn't find the answer I was hoping for. It seems widely acknowledged that our trucks eat up ball joints and I wondered if there was a reason why.

My Dad bought the truck and every service they told him that the ball joints needed replacing and he dutifully did so. I thought that was odd but reading on here, it seems many others have had similar troubles.

Other vehicles don't seem to be so prone to ball joint damage. Mine had 1500 miles on them max. It might have been down to me not getting the alignment soon enough or perhaps not tightening them up enough or perhaps the replacement LMC ones are junk but I want to understand WHY S10s, Blazers and our trucks seem so prone to ball joints going bad.

The lowers were the only ones that were reported as bad so I am going with the Raybestos pros that have been recommended but if anyone can tell me what makes a ball joint bad and in particular, why ours are so bad, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Turbotoyz]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

I just read that Moog has an updated lower ball joint. I'm on my phone, otherwise I'd look it up. Think it has a service bulletin about it as well that references lowered trucks.

 

[berzerker]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

My truck went for inspection yesterday and failed, amongst other things, for its ball joints.

I did a bit of reading up on here first but didn't find the answer I was hoping for. It seems widely acknowledged that our trucks eat up ball joints and I wondered if there was a reason why.

My Dad bought the truck and every service they told him that the ball joints needed replacing and he dutifully did so. I thought that was odd but reading on here, it seems many others have had similar troubles.

Other vehicles don't seem to be so prone to ball joint damage. Mine had 1500 miles on them max. It might have been down to me not getting the alignment soon enough or perhaps not tightening them up enough or perhaps the replacement LMC ones are junk but I want to understand WHY S10s, Blazers and our trucks seem so prone to ball joints going bad.

The lowers were the only ones that were reported as bad so I am going with the Raybestos pros that have been recommended but if anyone can tell me what makes a ball joint bad and in particular, why ours are so bad, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

s-10 /s-15 & syty's aren't the only things that eat up ball joint's . A whole lot of the chrysler / mopar products eat them , and quite a few Japanese made auto's have problems too ! mostly due to non greaseable joints used from production .

 

[Turbotoyz]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

My old Bimmer called for complete front end suspension replacement every 45-60k miles.

 

[Petesgn]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/_pdf_En/MOOG_PS_Bulletin_27020_R_K5289_K5335_En.pdf

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

I read the issue with ball joints is the lower ball joint will bind in the normal range of the suspension. The lower the suspension the worse the binding is. My Syclone failed inspection for the lower ball joints at 45k miles.

 

[Turbotoyz]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

The only inspection we have in the NW is emissions. Newer cars just get hooked to a computer, older ones still have to do the rollers.

 

[fauXGT]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

Lowered and wider tires create more pressure/wear on these trucks, is what I have been told by mechanics.
Don't know if a taller tire (70 series) gives more during cornering making less tension on the front end. And with the 50- series tires we run makes for better handling and feel of the road but shorten the life of parts.:2cents:

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

shitty roads, wide tires ball joints are the weakest link on our trucks

 

[Syclone951]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

What a coincidence, I just tried to have my truck inspected today....failed due to a lower ball joint.

 

[JSM]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

I read the issue with ball joints is the lower ball joint will bind in the normal range of the suspension. The lower the suspension the worse the binding is. My Syclone failed inspection for the lower ball joints at 45k miles.

Just my opinion here, but based on my experience and dgoodhue is correct. GM designed a 4x4 truck, when the syty came out they lowered it, kicked its ass and out the door it went. The ball joint angle gets worse the lower you go, add in wide tires, and probably not so great of BJ and they just don't last very long.

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

All the 90's C/K trucks and S-trucks eat ball joints, along with idler and pittman arms. Durangos and Dakotas eat them as well. Dodge and Ford f/s trucks (esp the HDs) are hard on them, mostly from the weight (diesels esp) and in general being beat on.

 

[InvisiBill]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

What the others said. T-trucks are hard on ball joints to begin with, and simply lowering the stock 4x4 parts results in changing the angles for the worse.

I've been out of it for a while, but the Power Performance parts seemed to work pretty well for people. http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59025 However, he hasn't been back here in a few years and the site seems to be down now.

 

[rentedmule]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

PP changed their name to Proforged (http://www.proforged.com/) a while back. They're still active on the other s-truck and pro-touring forums. They seem to have a good reputation - I've been running their tall lower BJs for a few years and they're holding up fine so far.

 

[JaySS]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

I would maintain most people are unfamilar with how to check them, they see some play and deduce the lower joints are worn and need to be replaced.

http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/steering_suspension/ques109_1.html

Having been recently bit by this when a 40,000 mile truck got it's _second_ set of replacement lowers.

The shop went ahead and replaced them without asking first. They meant well, but I highly doubt it lost two sets in that many easy miles.

- J

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: lower ball joints - why so bad?

Mine need to be replaced too! :woot: Along with pretty much everything else up front.

We all should go in and do a bulk purchase.