what is the ball joint?

[tel_boy]

Hi people, Hoping someone can help me here. I have a shaking / vibrating sensation coming from the front of the vehicle, like the wheels are wobbling. Upon closer inspection, the drivers side wheel seems a little shaky.Is this a case of a new ball joint or what? I know not alot about cars and dont want to take it to the garage and be told porkies. Thanks Peeps.

[richardhhha]

i think something broken i does!!!!

have you gone and hit any big pot holes recently?

in any chancee you need to take it to a garage, best bet is if they say something like "Oh your stearing rack is had it mate" then tell them to show you and always take it somewhere thats got a good rep.

without seeing the car i dought we will be able to help you very much really.

sorry

Rich

[psycho657]

i recently got a grinding noise whilst on full lock doing say 10mph its like a crackling noise its not the wheels scrapping or wheels loose theres plenty of clearance, i took it to a garage, they thought it was the cv joints, so got them replaced,they needed replacing saw them before the swapped em they where leaking, the noise wasnt as bad but was stil there, took it again, they thought it was the track rod ends, (which i believe is also track rod end ball joints dont quote me on it) again saw the old parts they where rusted and had to much play in them, got them replaced noise is still there, i duno what its is and it im beginning to think its could be the arm bushes maybe there ready i duno but again im not sure as its only when nearly on full lock and on full lock, but its coming from both sides, so if your noise is similair it could be any of these above.
hope you get it sorted soon let us no what it was maybe the same with mine. im goin to take it again soon to the garage and see if they can sort it out, the garage i go to is a vauxhall masterfit too so ud think theyd no what it was.

[tel_boy]

hey guys, got one of the guys at my work to have a wee look at my car and he thinks it may be the drivers side tie rod end or sumthin pronounced like that. so he got the part ordered and he fitted it, steering still seems a lil wobbly at slow speeds and there aint no kinks in the wheels. come to think of it i hit a pretty big pot hole and could this have done more serious damage? i hate having to fork out more money for another trip to the garage. so my collegue is going to have another look at it tomorrow and see what he comes up with. if i turn in a circle at slow speed i get a knocking noise from the front wheels.
ciao for now dudes, will keep you posted.

[richardhhha]

dude if your getting it at full lock it could be a multitude of things,
yes the tie/track rod ends could be at fault this would give you a wabble in the stearing wheel, not so much at the wheels them selfs, the wheel bearings could be shagged as you did hit a large pot hole you can do a lot of damage!!

could have a bent stearing arm, bent lower arm, bent suspension leg, bent top mount (thats the expensice one)

if your getting it on ful lock its normaly cv joints, but also could be the differential.

really would need to see the car to tell you whats wrong (fortunatly im not a back street garage and im pritty good at my work)
"i know sounds big headed but i am pritty good at what i do"

[tel_boy]

after checking everything, it all came down to a bulge in my rear tyre tread.

[richardhhha]

in the treaded part i have never hered of that before!!!!

might have been squared (flatting off part of the tyre so it isnt circular any more)