Lifespan of Lower Ball Joints
02-26-12, 08:45 AM
#1
Lifespan of Lower Ball Joints
Im starting to get a faint shake at 60mph. Going to get my wheels/tires balanced first. However I was looking at my service records and I see that the lower ball joints have been replace in 2007 at 40k ago.
What is the life span of LBJ? We do have some crappy roads here in Boston
What is the life span of LBJ? We do have some crappy roads here in Boston
02-26-12, 08:59 AM
#2
The 60mph shake could be anything on the front suspension being worn.
It seems these cars are so sensitive in the front that anything that has any wear can exhibit the same symptom. So if you have the vibration issue you need to look into the age of everything on the front.
Tire balance, wheel pads squarely on the rotor surface (no rust build up between), rack bushings, caster bushings, inner rods, outer rods, wheel bearings, upper/lower bj's, etc..
It seems these cars are so sensitive in the front that anything that has any wear can exhibit the same symptom. So if you have the vibration issue you need to look into the age of everything on the front.
Tire balance, wheel pads squarely on the rotor surface (no rust build up between), rack bushings, caster bushings, inner rods, outer rods, wheel bearings, upper/lower bj's, etc..
02-26-12, 09:20 AM
#3
Yah I just got my rack bushing yesterday, will install those, balance wheel/tires, and check those bearings...its not a major shake just minor, but any shake is a bad shake ya know haha
I see all these people breaking LBJ's recently and I dont want that to happen to me! How long should they last??
I see all these people breaking LBJ's recently and I dont want that to happen to me! How long should they last??
02-26-12, 10:02 AM
#4
Yea, I replaced mine 20k miles ago but with some aftermarket ones from eBay. Should I be looking into some oem ones in the future? But like the OP, how long untill the next LBJ service?
02-26-12, 10:02 AM
#5
Well I'll try to stay quiet on the LBJ brands because this is CL and OEM is best even if they break all the time. But some of the best built joints available start with a m and end with a g.... 
But a BJ should last a very long time, and it should exhibit obvious signs of wear before just breaking like the OEM ones have been doing. Such as clunking on slow bumps or transferring quick, light, loose, juddery feeling shakes you can feel in the steering wheel at slow to moderate speeds over cracks/holes/bumps. And of course with the wheel jacked up off the ground seeing if you can feel any play when you grab the top/bottom of the wheel and try to shake it in/out.
Since it seems you don't know what brand are in it then who knows. But there are millions of other models of cars with 200k+ miles on all stock bj's and they rarely ever break.
But a BJ should last a very long time, and it should exhibit obvious signs of wear before just breaking like the OEM ones have been doing. Such as clunking on slow bumps or transferring quick, light, loose, juddery feeling shakes you can feel in the steering wheel at slow to moderate speeds over cracks/holes/bumps. And of course with the wheel jacked up off the ground seeing if you can feel any play when you grab the top/bottom of the wheel and try to shake it in/out.
Since it seems you don't know what brand are in it then who knows. But there are millions of other models of cars with 200k+ miles on all stock bj's and they rarely ever break.
02-26-12, 10:16 AM
#6
Intermediate
LBJ lifetime
my original LBJs went 100,000KM. I replaced them with Beck Arnley, which lasted only 10,000KM.
Replaced those with OEM and have put 20,000KM with no signs of wear. Have also replaced upper arms, caster arms, struts and poly rack bushings - not lowered, stock rims. I guess the lesson is "Your mileage may vary."
Replaced those with OEM and have put 20,000KM with no signs of wear. Have also replaced upper arms, caster arms, struts and poly rack bushings - not lowered, stock rims. I guess the lesson is "Your mileage may vary."
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02-26-12, 03:13 PM
#11
my original LBJs went 100,000KM. I replaced them with Beck Arnley, which lasted only 10,000KM.
Replaced those with OEM and have put 20,000KM with no signs of wear. Have also replaced upper arms, caster arms, struts and poly rack bushings - not lowered, stock rims. I guess the lesson is "Your mileage may vary."
Replaced those with OEM and have put 20,000KM with no signs of wear. Have also replaced upper arms, caster arms, struts and poly rack bushings - not lowered, stock rims. I guess the lesson is "Your mileage may vary."
So for the viewers out there don't base all aftermarket options out there on a crap company that don't actually make or at least design their own products.
02-26-12, 05:40 PM
#15
As much as you want to spend on the joints. It's an easy diy job with basic tools since these actually bolt onto the spindle instead of being pressed into the control arm like alot of cars do.
At a shop on a lift it would take well under an hour. So whatever the hourly rate of the shop you use is about what labor should be.
At a shop on a lift it would take well under an hour. So whatever the hourly rate of the shop you use is about what labor should be.