how can i tell. at first i thought it may be my shocks but then a friend had the same kind of sound in his camry and it was his ball joint. its hard to explain but it feel like it thumps everytime i hit a bump. also when i rev higher and release the clutch slower it thumps constantly but it is the same sounds as when i am hitting bumps. how can i check if its my shocks or the ball joint or something else for that matter?
how hard is it to change the ball joint or shocks (not springs just shocks).
i know i didnt explain it all too well but it is really hard to describe the sound.
please help a brother out
thanks in advance


[Modified by bocian, 11:19 PM 10/16/2002]

 

I never had a ball joint problem on my integra, but on my Chrylser it was a constant metal thumping sound it was specially loud when I turned the wheels
I send my car to chrysler and they fixed it because it was a recall on the ball joints

 

i have the same problem on my driver's side, when i take a sharp turn it does it and when i launch, THUNK! someone told me it could just be loose, i'm taking it to a buddies soon.

 

Just replace it. That way you won't get stuck somewhere and have to get your car towed. Happened to me at Burlington Coat Factory. Ball joint and axle broke. The ball joint only costs about $15.00 if you know somebody at Napa.

 

jack the car off the ground. (whatever wheel it is at) Grab the tire at 12 and 6 'o clock. wiggle tire "up and down" and see if the joint is loose. This will let you feel if there is slop in the ball joint. IT is really easy to do. It could also be wheel bearings or struts.

 

thanks for the replies. i just ordered my timing belt, water pump and the ball joint. the ball joint only cost me 12.xx bucks so its not that bad. im gonna replace it, what the hell, 12 bucks is nothing since shipping was free (over 50$ purchased)
the site is performancemotorcars.com if anyone wants to know.

but thanks for the comments, im gonna try the 12 and 6 grab on the wheel and see if that does anything. are there any other ways to tell if my ball joint is bad, or to test mt struts?
TIA

btw, anyone know where i can get an axle cheap? im pretty sure that is on its way out as well...clicking noise when i turn


[Modified by bocian, 11:22 PM 10/17/2002]

 

axel...Napa, autozone.. Not sure if they are good as stock tho.

 

cv joint??

 

AutoZone rebuilt axles ownz j00 and me and my friends

They have lifetime warranty, so you will never have to pay for an axle again. Just take your whole axle out, take it to AutoZone, and get a whole replacement axle for about $60. It's really the easiest way to do it. And yes, if it's clicking, you will need to replace the whole joint (easier to replace whole axle). Just repacking grease and replacing boots will not help, since the joint is already bad (clicking sound).