One of my balls is loose?

[focusedrage]

Yes, the guy that looked at my car said that one of the ball joints was loose and recomended replacing the frount control arms. Would some one please explain this. WHy do they need to be replaced, how do they work and what not.

 

[pneumo]

I think that might have been covered in a recall on the 2G's. Sorry I can't provide a link, but I think I saw it on this site, repair forum. Call the dealer ASAP, they have been known to come apart. The ball joint is part of the lower control arm. It's what the wheel pivots on when you steer. Some resourcefull owners have replaced the ball joint without replacing the whole arm, but it sounds like a PITA.

 

[JohnWH]

Yup. That's a recall. Take it to the Mitsubsihi Dealer and get it replaced ASAP!!!!! Your wheels WILL fall off.

 

[focusedrage]

hmm, cant the part be ordered?

 

[RACER-X]

yes, there was a recall on 2g ball joints. just take the car to satan (the dealer) and have them do the repair free of charge...... that is if you feel you can trust them. i went ahead and spent the $500.00 and did the job myself.

 

[focusedrage]

hmm, it seems napa sells the control arms for 100 a pop... also i bought the car used from a honda dealer, the mitsu on ei took it to said it woudl cost 270 for them to fix it, i woudl rather do it my self/ with mechanic friend

 

[herostar]

mine got fixed in a shop, when they put the nuts back on they cross threaded 3 of them, so I had to basically put on a whole new right front suspension... make sure you have a good shop do it, or do it yourself

 

[focusedrage]

hmm how woudl i go aobut gettin the recall done at a dealership
it is free

 

[RamenPride]

Originally posted by focusedrage
hmm how woudl i go aobut gettin the recall done at a dealership
it is free

make an appointment to bring your car in to the dealer and tell them that the ball joint is loose (or that you're steering is loose or erratic, hear a clunking noise when going over bumps, etc.). if they know anything about anything, they'll know that there is a recall out on them and will replace it/them for free.

 

[Zerocygnal]

I just replaced the ball joints on my Talon last weekend. It was kind of a PITA but not too bad. Basically you have to use a C-clamp and press the old ones out one you remove the retaining ring, then press the new ones in with the c-clamp and put the new retaining ring in. Took about two hours. I'm not sure if it is the same on a 2G but with what I had to do to get mine out I doubt if it would be much worse. Cost of two ball joints was 100.00 from advance auto parts. Also I replaced the tie rod ends which was another 100.00 dollars but since I was down there I went ahead and did that too. If you opt to replace the tie rod ends make sure you realize that you need an alignment done afterwards. Handles like a new car now.

 

[focusedrage]

hmm, 2g suspension is much differnt, the lower control arm is a single piece, you cant replace just the ball joint you have to replace the whole thing, which is a not that hard as what you did, just acouple bolts... anyway as to what ramen pride said: "if they know anything about anything" well there is the problem... hahah those bastareds at a mitsubishi dealer ship were gonna charge 270 for the whol thing... PAH, i know that if i coudl et the parts for free then i would be happy cause i want to change the bushings too so if they do it ill have to take it apart all over agian.

 

[Zerocygnal]

Lower ball joint bolt having bastards...you have it good...

 

[focusedrage]

I dont want to rag on mitsubishi but chrysler may be the good twin in this DSM thing... i found a chrysler dealer that will do it for free ye ha

 

[RamenPride]

Originally posted by focusedrage
I dont want to rag on mitsubishi but chrysler may be the good twin in this DSM thing... i found a chrysler dealer that will do it for free ye ha

it's a recall, it's supposed to be free

 

[Zerocygnal]

Do you really want those dealership clowns touching your car? ASE should be ASS there. I'd pay a hundred dollars to them NOT to touch my car.

 

[Hammy]

I've had the Mits techs do a few things on my car being it was under warranty....never had any problem. I would trust them over the average "domestic lovers" that seem to be the majority of the mechanics around where I live. Some of them don't even know what Mitsubishi is......

 

[focusedrage]

hmm, i like free things, and i dont mind really, fixin the control arms, and the transfer case, thats ok by me

 

[4g63tc]

yes the dealer will replace the lower control arm balljoints (actually they replace the entire lower control arms), and the transfer case(new), as well as the incorrectly installed gas tank seal(new Tank) and tey'll do it for free.....but make sure to arrange an appointment first.. so they can't pre order the parts. (they never have any parts in stock, just those nifty license frames.)


check out the ntsb's web site on all manuacturers recall's

hope this helps..

 

[MaineDSM]

This recall was for all 2Gs, also for the Avenger and Sebring of those years, because they use the same faulty component.
Just go to different dealers until you find one who won't give you #@%#@%#@%#@%. I found a Jeep dealer that was HAPPY to do it. Two nice shiny lateral control arms are now installed on my Talon.



Here is a blurb:
http://www.safetyalerts.com/recall/a/01/mitsu.htm

And here is the OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEB PAGE:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/index.cfm

(Print this out and wave it under there nose, to put the fear of God in them.)

 

[MaineDSM]

By the way, because it's a recall, it's totally FREE.
You don't need to pay ANYTHING.

Just get it done, I've know quite a few people who have had their suspension collapse. If it happens at 80mph... your F-U-C-K-E-D.

 

[MaineDSM]

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 00V421002
Component: SUSPENSION:INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM:LOWER:BALL JOINT
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION



Year: 1996 Make: EAGLE Model: TALON Recall Date: 03/12/2001

Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 393796
Manufactured: 03/1994 - 01/1998
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

 

[focusedrage]

dudes, thanks alot for all the info and help, but i had the thing done like 4 posts ago, this will be hepful to others.... THanks

 

[apache211]

Originally posted by Zerocygnal
Do you really want those dealership clowns touching your car? ASE should be ASS there. I'd pay a hundred dollars to them NOT to touch my car.

After reading all these posts, I then quickly realized where the clunking noise is coming from when I go over bumps. I just had this recall done on my car about 3 weeks ago, and now I am questioning the integrity of the mechanics at the local Mitsubishi zoo.
hmmmm... time to go and bust some heads

thanks guys
-adam

 

[focusedrage]

clucnkign could be shocks, too, thats what i had, tis a good opertunity to uprade the shocks all around

 

[apache211]

I just bought matrix coilovers and am wondering how to install them with my stock struts, or can I?? Do I need to get after market ones??
-adam