I was just wondering if you guys can tell me any signs to look for that says i need to change my ball joints.

 

when you install your mad tyte jdm turbo fo sho....really though...jack the car up and wiggle the tire vertically...see if there is play from the balljoints. If not then they are good enough.

 

my mechanic wiggled it horizontally...I think he said I need a alignment?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Civic_07 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my mechanic wiggled it horizontally...I think he said I need a alignment?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe he's trying to sell you something

Are your tires unevenly worn? Steering wheel off center? Those are usually the reasons for an alignment. A lot of places will CHECK the alignment for free. Sears will check the alignment and chassis for free. You might want to look into that.

Grabbing the tire at 3o clock and 9o clock and shaking it side to side will reveal a tie rod issue. It can also reveal a wheel bearing issue.

To check ball joints, grab the tire at 12o clock and 6 o clock and pull the tire and push it so it's wiggling vertically.

There is no interval for changing ball joints. You change them when they wear out. Honda ball joints and tie rods are VERY VERY good. I was very surprised at how much abuse my 92 hatch took even with 120k on it, and a HARD curb impact, they were still good.

Lowering the car will wear out ball joints fast.

Is your car lowered? Did you hit something? How many miles are on your car.

With the next post, answer those questions for sure (all of them), and add in about as many details about your car and the condition of the car and your upkeep schedule as possible.

AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE.

Remember.

AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE.

 

i have a problem on my 99 civic..we change the axel..the motor mounts but still if il turn either left or right i cud still here a clinking soung..help me here..tnx

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by up-on-you &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> i have a problem on my 99 civic..we change the axel..the motor mounts but still if il turn either left or right i cud still here a clinking soung..help me here..tnx </TD></TR></TABLE>

You gotta start a new thread, brotha. This is another dude's thread.

There could be a whole mess of issues. Need more details. What type of car, etc. Start another thread. Add more details. Much more.

 

sorry bro..just new here..dunno wat to do..like i said before got 99 honda civic si..and experiencing a bad noise under the engine..

 

yes my car is lowered..with tein coilovers..also i saw a leak on my front suspension..d car is about 81000 on mileage already..

 

to check the ball joints is is to hold it at 6 and 12... or at 8 oclock... but in hondas case it has upper and lower... so 6 and 12 is best... make sure its not the bearing thats loose though... play is bad... tight is good... ..... ....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by up-on-you &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes my car is lowered..with tein coilovers..also i saw a leak on my front suspension..d car is about 81000 on mileage already..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Make a new thread.

 

if you do any work to it, decide to replace anything you will need an alignment.

you can have a slightly worn ball joint that doesn't show up unless you load the suspension. (you can do this by lifting the car, and then carefully setting it back down on a jackstand under the lower control arm as close to the hub as you can get.) this is the recommended way to check for looseness. it's also a good idea to double check the torque on the axle nut and lug nuts before starting.

another note, to clear up a common misconception.. theres more to the alignment than a straight steering wheel and feeling or not feeling a pull. the only way to be sure it's right is to put it up on the rack and have it checked with an alignment machine.

hope this helps. keep an eye on those tires.

 

even worn bushings, bump stops on a lowered vehicle and a wheel bearing could throw your alignment off while at speed.

Like the above poster said, get the ball joints from hondaautomotiveparts.com Install ball joints and preload all the bushings on the car before you tighten anything up. Go get alignment. Theres obviously more to that but search, you should replace them if your in doubt. Make sure you get a new castle nut too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bigsyke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">even worn bushings, bump stops on a lowered vehicle and a wheel bearing could throw your alignment off while at speed.

Like the above poster said, get the ball joints from hondaautomotiveparts.com Install ball joints and preload all the bushings on the car before you tighten anything up. Go get alignment. Theres obviously more to that but search, you should replace them if your in doubt. Make sure you get a new castle nut too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What do bumpstops have to do with an alignment?

He has to make sure that the ball joints are bad first.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What do bumpstops have to do with an alignment?

He has to make sure that the ball joints are bad first. </TD></TR></TABLE>

They have everything to do with an alignment. If a car is lowered, any inconsistancys in the bumpstop's cut could throw a corner off. If the car is resting on a bumpstop as well. I know on my EJ8 I trimmed the bumpstops and the suspension was sitting differently when loaded to weight.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bigsyke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

They have everything to do with an alignment. If a car is lowered, any inconsistancys in the bumpstop's cut could throw a corner off. If the car is resting on a bumpstop as well. I know on my EJ8 I trimmed the bumpstops and the suspension was sitting differently when loaded to weight.</TD></TR></TABLE>

A bumpstop does not have anything to do with an alignment.

A bumpstop stops the suspension at full travel. In a normal situation, the suspension should be nowhere NEAR the bumpstops. You want as much travel as possible before hitting bumpstops.

If your car's alignment or ride height depends on the bumpstops, you did something terribly wrong.

The fact that your car "sat differently" with the bumpstops cut means that you did something terribly wrong in the first place.

In a normal situation, the bump stops do not affect alignment. Your suspension should be far enough away from the bumpstops to hit significant bumps, turn hard, have passengers, etc. without hitting the bumpstops.

Bumpstops are there to stop the travel of the suspension in EXTREME cases.

Obviously, since you shorten shock travel with lower springs/coilovers, you have to cut your bumpstops accordingly. However, the car should have springs stiff enough to keep it away from the bumpstops unless you hit some REALLY large bump.

If your alignment depends on your bumpstops, fix the issues first. The alignment is the last thing to worry about in that case.

Hence the truth: Your bumpstops do NOT affect your alignment in a real life situation.

 

Great responses and description about check for ball joints but where's Civic_07 who started this thread.!?!? Any news on your problem/questions.!?!?

 

Thanks for the good info guys, greatly appreciated it!:D.

My mechanic grabbed it @ 3o clock and 9o clock and it wiggled. The tire is also bald on that wheel. The car is lowered and its a 93 civic coupe, has about 215 000 Km...the car does also pull to the right side more often (rightside of the vehicle is where the tire is bald and the wheel shakes)...but I changed the back two tires with bigger tires than the front and the steering wheel didn't pull to oneside no more.

I was actually about to go do a alignment tommorrow, but I guess ill wait for your guys responses, Thanks

 

Oh btw, there is very little powersteering fluid leaking around the tie-rods. Same side to, front righside of the vehicle.

 

how do you konw its power steering fluid? you know brake fluid looks the same right?

If your rack is leaking it would show mostly at the drivers side.

 

My mechanic said it was powersteering fluid...well I don't know if was to just look at it. Im going to change my brakes today because they are squealing and I'll hit you guys up with the 411

 

Apparently I need to change my outer tie rod, Parts + Labour is 60$...good price or what?