Ball joint

Ball joints on vehicles operate in much the same way, though, highly rated mechanics say. They connect a vehicle’s tire and wheel to its suspension system.

If you’ve ever seen a car on the side of the road with a tire folded under the vehicle, you’ve seen a broken ball joint.

Ball joints connect the control arm to the steering knuckle. The ball joint is a pivot between the wheels and the suspension of your vehicle. In the front suspension, on most vehicles, there are upper and lower ball joints on both sides. The low ball joints are usually bigger and wear out faster due to the front weight of the vehicle that rests on them. 

• Clunking noise
• Uneven tire wear or if the vehicle starts to pull.  An alignment is recommended after suspension parts are replaced to ensure good tire wear. 
• Excessive vibration from the front of the vehicle.
• Steering wandering to the left or right 

• Problems with the suspension and steering can cause the same symptoms.
• If the grease leaks out of the ball joint or any dirt and impurities get into the grease, the ball joint may become worn or damaged. 

• Replacing ball joints is not part of routine maintenance. However, they should be checked according to the manufacturer scheduled maintenance or mileage intervals, or at every oil and filter service.