Wheel jerks when braking, Dealer says front ball joints are bad even though I just put new ones on in the last 2 years, but I guess they could be. Would a bad ball joint cause this or should I be looking elsewhere.

I have also replaced in the last year, upper control arms, outer tierod ends, control arms #2 (castor arm), multiple alignments.

Do you think it would be the balljoints or possibly inner tie rods? Dealer wanted me to pay another $50 diagnostic fee AFTER they aligned it for a 3rd time so I don't really trust what they are telling me at this point.

If I jab the brake quickly the steering wheel will jerk to the left about 15-20 degrees.

Thanks

 

What brand balljoints did you install? I would also check for sticking slide pins on the brake caliper

 

They were beck/arnley which i know are crap. I have moog ones for left and right in the mail as we speak.

Also I have lubed both front caliper slides on each side, and bleed both brakes, its not a brake issue as when I slightly hold the brake, the car doesnt gradually go to one side, when u jab the brake its as if you can feel the front left wheel pivot left to right all by itself for a second as u jam the brakes.

 

rofl............

 

lol yeah this isn't a rotor problem at all

 

Usually if the steering wheel pull when you brake the issue is a sticking caliper. Did you check to see if the caliper piston moves in and out freely. Sometimes it will only stick at a particular part of the travel and you may not notice it when bleeding the brakes.

 

UPDATE:

When I first turn the car on in the morning, the brakes work fine for about 2 or 3 stops, no pulling or wheel jerking, then as I keep driving it slowly gets worse until it starts dragging and wheel jerking.

Now I'm leaning towards a brake hose or the master cylinder.

Would it be the brake hose is screwed and on startup the hose doesn't get "stretched" until a few times the brakes are applied, and then it "stretches" out?

 

I would be really surprised if it is a brake hose issue unless it is actually leaking.

My bet is still on a sticky caliper piston.

Next time you notice this sensation after driving for a while stop the car and see if one of the brake rotors is much hotter than the other. If they seem to be at different temperatures its a caliper issue.

 

UPDATE: now that it's warmer weather out and not actually below zero, this problem has completely went away for the last week. So I'll assume sticky caliper and rebuild both fronts in the near future!