Lower ball joint FAILED-with pics
02-17-13, 08:38 AM
#1
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Lower ball joint FAILED-with pics
03 IS300 w/ 109,000 miles-Lower ball joint failed, thankfully I was just pulling out of a driveway and not doing 65 on the highway. Weeks prior leading up to this I heard a dull creaking noise coming from the passenger side. I thought this noise was related the weather. I live in Boston and the snow and temps this winter has not been very kind. I planned to had the ball joints replaced on Tuesday, this happened on Saturday 
Not pretty Guys....take care of those ball joints!!
Not pretty Guys....take care of those ball joints!!
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Omen766 (04-05-17)
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02-19-13, 05:08 PM
#5
Sorry to hear about your troubles. To those who haven't taken care of this yet, if you've got the space and tools, ball joints aren't difficult to replace on the IS300. You should also inspect the No. 2 front LCA. The bushing is known to go bad around this time. I know of a person whose bushing tore, and they had trouble getting the leftovers off the car because it bent a part. After 77,xxx miles, you could see through mine.
Here are some warning signs that your No. 2 LCA may need to be replaced:
EDIT:
http://my.is/forums/f89/super-big-pr...z-help-427917/
Here are some warning signs that your No. 2 LCA may need to be replaced:
-Your car shudders or gives you lots of feedback in the steering.
-poor tire wear even after alignment or walking alignment when driven off and on the alignment rack
-You look at the bushing and its torn
-You have an IS and you have never swapped it before. Rubber dry rots with time, so its not necesarily related to mileage.
-poor tire wear even after alignment or walking alignment when driven off and on the alignment rack
-You look at the bushing and its torn
-You have an IS and you have never swapped it before. Rubber dry rots with time, so its not necesarily related to mileage.
http://my.is/forums/f89/super-big-pr...z-help-427917/
Last edited by rvalero; 02-19-13 at 05:14 PM.
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Omen766 (04-05-17)
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02-19-13, 08:29 PM
#7
Definitely worthwhile to inspect every once in a while...
The proper way is to have the car on the ground flat, get a jack underneath the lower control arm, the sprung part, not where it bolts to the frame - the idea is to have the coil spring compressed... get it a few inches off the ground and take a large pry bar or similar and try lifting the tire straight up - have a friend with a flashlight look at the ball joint - if there is any vertical movement at all, it is time for replacement.... while you are at it, grab the wheel and tire and shake it left to right and up and down - checking for more movement in the ball joint as well as tie rod ends and wheel bearings...
The proper way is to have the car on the ground flat, get a jack underneath the lower control arm, the sprung part, not where it bolts to the frame - the idea is to have the coil spring compressed... get it a few inches off the ground and take a large pry bar or similar and try lifting the tire straight up - have a friend with a flashlight look at the ball joint - if there is any vertical movement at all, it is time for replacement.... while you are at it, grab the wheel and tire and shake it left to right and up and down - checking for more movement in the ball joint as well as tie rod ends and wheel bearings...
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daddystop (11-03-19)
02-20-13, 07:17 PM
#13
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Same thing happened to me in one of my acuras, all I could think about is what if I was on the interstate next to a 18wheeler. Now I have lower ball joint paranoia.
02-20-13, 07:20 PM
#14
As much as people hate them, that is why a state safety inspection done properly is a great idea - catch these things before they get that far... If they are checked yearly, pretty much guaranteed you won't have a failure, or at least significantly less likely...
02-21-13, 08:12 AM
#15
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After almost $650
, I got my car back. They had to replace the control arm and ball joint. The mechanic went to the Lexus dealership and bought these parts. 
I could have waited for parts to be shipped from RockAuto.com. I should have been more specific but anyways. The ABS wheel speed sensor was damaged too, so that needs to be replaced and my fender is DESTROYED
Thanks for all your feedback boys.
, I got my car back. They had to replace the control arm and ball joint. The mechanic went to the Lexus dealership and bought these parts. I could have waited for parts to be shipped from RockAuto.com. I should have been more specific but anyways. The ABS wheel speed sensor was damaged too, so that needs to be replaced and my fender is DESTROYED Thanks for all your feedback boys.