Alignment problem or tire or balljoint, or struts..?
#1
09-26-2010 | 03:09 PM
Alignment problem or tire or balljoint, or struts..?
Well i took a look at my ball joints the other day and the boot on my drivers side its torn, and i notice it squeaks periodically, and ocaisionally at highway speeds the car will weave a little mainly above 60mph, and it kinda has a wierd vibration its a light vibration but only occurs at highway speeds, im trying to figure out if its the ball joint needs an alignment, or if my struts are going bad
#5
10-04-2010 | 11:30 PM
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
Most of the cars, its the whole lower control arm. i believe that the 93-early 94 had bolt on ball joints, but then they went to having to do the whole control arm.
Jack the car up to take tension off the ball joint, then see if it rattles. if not, get a new boot and repack it with grease and hope for the best.
Struts you can check by getting the car bouncing. if it "bounces" more than once or twice after you stop making it move, you probably need new struts.
Just because your car tracks straight at 60 mph, it does not mean the car is in alignment. You can have PLENTY of alignment issues, such as toe in, toe out, or camber being off, and it will still go straight. if you have an equal toe out condition on both sides, the car would still drive straight, but would have a tendancy to wander. I'd definitely get that checked. while they do that, they can also check your ball joints and suspension/steering components.
Look at your tires - they can tell you a lot about what's going on with the car by how they are wearing.
http://www.goodyeartires.com/kyt/maintainingATire/
http://tireguides.com/print_friendly...tails&ttcid=10
Those are a couple links that might help you visualize the different kinds of wear, and what causes them. Hopefully that helps you out some.
Jack the car up to take tension off the ball joint, then see if it rattles. if not, get a new boot and repack it with grease and hope for the best.
Struts you can check by getting the car bouncing. if it "bounces" more than once or twice after you stop making it move, you probably need new struts.
Just because your car tracks straight at 60 mph, it does not mean the car is in alignment. You can have PLENTY of alignment issues, such as toe in, toe out, or camber being off, and it will still go straight. if you have an equal toe out condition on both sides, the car would still drive straight, but would have a tendancy to wander. I'd definitely get that checked. while they do that, they can also check your ball joints and suspension/steering components.
Look at your tires - they can tell you a lot about what's going on with the car by how they are wearing.
http://www.goodyeartires.com/kyt/maintainingATire/
http://tireguides.com/print_friendly...tails&ttcid=10
Those are a couple links that might help you visualize the different kinds of wear, and what causes them. Hopefully that helps you out some.
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