Suspension help*Hit Curb*

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Jan 1, 2013 | 06:26 PM
  #1  
Hi all, I was going about 40mph and hit a curb straight on. it was pretty much the middle median. my front driver side wheel went over the curb and obviously from the loud Pop noise from hitting it, i knew it was not good. The car still seems to be fine driving straight, however now when the left wheel bumps and goes over stuff it doesnt sound good. It sounds like something is broken and like its loose. I think i hit it so hard, that the side fender isnt flush with the hood anymore, its like 1/4 inch off from the line of the hood to the left fender. well, the question is what do i need to check? i have already loosened and tighted the upper control arm thinking it was that. Also when i go over street reflectors, it seems as if there is no support ( like its riding on no air ) on the left wheel. Could it be that the shock blew? ( i have Megan EZ coil for about 30k miles). the left wheel side also sometimes makes a pop/clank noise when i go over the street reflectors also. any suggestions would help. I do not want to buy new coils if i dont need to , especially if thats not what the issue is.
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Jan 1, 2013 | 07:30 PM
  #2  
Upper ball joint popped from its seat in the upper control arm. You cannot purchase a new ball joint by itself; you either have to purchase an entire upper arm with a "new" ball joint in it or get aftermarket SPC adjustable ball joints.
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Jan 1, 2013 | 10:49 PM
  #3  
You need to check for any frame/chassis/suspension arm bent or tweak. I would go to suspension alignment shop first to see how far the alignment went off spec. Or you can go to the body shop to have your car checked for dimensional error.
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Jan 5, 2013 | 07:44 PM
  #4  
Quote: You need to check for any frame/chassis/suspension arm bent or tweak. I would go to suspension alignment shop first to see how far the alignment went off spec. Or you can go to the body shop to have your car checked for dimensional error.
^This... make sure something isn't bent/broken
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Jan 7, 2013 | 08:06 PM
  #5  
Quote: Upper ball joint popped from its seat in the upper control arm. You cannot purchase a new ball joint by itself; you either have to purchase an entire upper arm with a "new" ball joint in it or get aftermarket SPC adjustable ball joints.
Well i looked at the ball joint more closely, and the ring that held it was cracked, so i removed/loosened the upper arm and starting moving it around and the ball joint popped up, now hopefully this is the only thing wrong and what was making the clanking noise, good thing i have the spc ball joints that i never used. i looked at the ball joints on the lower arm and they seemed fine. the ball joint is now unseated. pic below

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Jan 8, 2013 | 04:57 PM
  #6  
^Hmmmm, ask me how I knew that one! LOL!
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Mar 25, 2013 | 01:33 PM
  #7  
Quote: Well i looked at the ball joint more closely, and the ring that held it was cracked, so i removed/loosened the upper arm and starting moving it around and the ball joint popped up, now hopefully this is the only thing wrong and what was making the clanking noise, good thing i have the spc ball joints that i never used. i looked at the ball joints on the lower arm and they seemed fine. the ball joint is now unseated. pic below

Sorry for bringing up an old thread but how did you end up fixing the upper ball joint? Did you end up putting in the spc joint or did you replace the whole camber arm ?

I pretty much hit a pothole the size of a small sink whole and had my lower ball joints go bad and upper ball joint as well. I replace the lower ball joints and the issue is still there so i want to replace the upper ball joints now.

Any helpful tips would be great,

Thanks
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Mar 25, 2013 | 06:25 PM
  #8  
It'll be cheaper to get the SPC adjustable ball joints, since NO ONE sells an OEM replacement upper ball joint by itself.
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Mar 25, 2013 | 08:18 PM
  #9  
Quote: Sorry for bringing up an old thread but how did you end up fixing the upper ball joint? Did you end up putting in the spc joint or did you replace the whole camber arm ?

I pretty much hit a pothole the size of a small sink whole and had my lower ball joints go bad and upper ball joint as well. I replace the lower ball joints and the issue is still there so i want to replace the upper ball joints now.

Any helpful tips would be great,

Thanks
yeah i replaced both sides with spc ball joints, i recently just did the passenger side after about a month of replacing the driver side. waaaay easier the second time around replacing them.lol...
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Mar 26, 2013 | 12:26 PM
  #10  
Quote: yeah i replaced both sides with spc ball joints, i recently just did the passenger side after about a month of replacing the driver side. waaaay easier the second time around replacing them.lol...
Thanks man, i just placed my order for them today,. any special tools needed to install them?
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Mar 26, 2013 | 12:31 PM
  #11  
Quote: It'll be cheaper to get the SPC adjustable ball joints, since NO ONE sells an OEM replacement upper ball joint by itself.
yea, i ended up ordering the spc joints. But while searching i also came across these ball joints. It says it is only for AWD applications but they look identical to the oem RWD design.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOOG-K500114-Ball-Joint-Upper-/160988635743?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AIS250&hash=item257baba25f&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-K500114-Upper-Ball-Joint-/360585805622?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AIS250&hash=item53f496bf36&vxp=mtr
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Mar 26, 2013 | 06:10 PM
  #12  
^Ask the seller to verify if they can be used on a RWD application.
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Mar 27, 2013 | 09:43 AM
  #13  
Quote: ^Ask the seller to verify if they can be used on a RWD application.
I also bought these to see if they will fit as well. If they don't fit then i will put on the spc joints i bought.My car is stock so i really don't need the adjust ability of the spc joints. Will make a separate thread when i have received the two orders.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/320695620633...84.m1439.l2649
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Mar 27, 2013 | 11:07 AM
  #14  
Quote: Thanks man, i just placed my order for them today,. any special tools needed to install them?
if installing spc joints. i used ball joint press ( rented at local autoparts store ) and a adjustable pitman arm puller. to pop the ball joint thread from the arm and the ball joint press to intially pop the original ball joint and to press the spc plate to the control arm. i just replaced these, so let me know if you need help with them or get stuck
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Mar 27, 2013 | 12:28 PM
  #15  
^^^ Thanks for the tip i will make sure to pick these up.
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