Bad ball joint?

[dsm4lif3]

I am just curious on if ball joints are allowed a minimal play? This is not for a dsm its for a honda but i dont know if theres a general rule? I jacked up lower control arm and the upper ball joint moves a little but i dont know if its enough to be worrying about.

 

[mitecl96]

What kind of play. And it shouldn't have any kind of play.

 

[knochgoon24]

The joints should have no noticeable play.

 

[dsm4lif3]

What do you mean what kind of play? it moves front to back if that makes any sense. So what your saying when there is no tension when jacked up under lower control arm the ball joints shouldnt move at all?

Oh ok i didnt see your post knochgoon thanks for quick response guys

 

[knochgoon24]

Go to a store, get them to pull the part. Check the play in it. If it has less movement in it than yours, buy it.

Play = slack = slop = moving in a way it's not designed to move.

 

[dsm4lif3]

Good idea man didnt think of that ill have to run to store tommorow.

 

[DSML7dropkick]

If you let the weight back down on the wheels and turn it all the to where you can get to it. Use a long pry bar and wedge it between the ball joint and pry. If it has any movement its bad but you can drive on one that has some play. It just causes uneven tire wear and it could snap causing a bad day.

 

[sciondan]

It should have no play what so ever. It should move but be very tight. If it moves easily and has any play just do yourself a favor and replace it before it gets worse.

 

[Chill Kill Kult]

if you jack the car up under the lower control arm there will be tension on the upper ball joint. the only time you jack under the lower control arm to check the front end is on trucks and old cars where the coil spring compresses against the lower arm. for state inspection purposes on some joints you are allowed some play but it's not much. I remember on chev. blazer you were allowed around something like 0.150 -0.200" on the idler arm. haven't worked on them for a while, think most have hit the scrap yards. But yeah if you can feel it it will only get worse, and will eventually be much more noticeable.

 

[dsm4lif3]

Oh ok so where you jack it up it wouldnt matter? So pretty much there is play with tension. Im in college now and i must of misheard the teacher because i thought for any car to check ball joints you would jack from lower control arm. Thanks

 

[Chill Kill Kult]

under the body. could use those protruding pieces of sheet metal that honda puts along the pinch rail. they are one of the few auto makers that give reinforced places to jack up the car. the others are krauts, and some newer Chrysler but the rubber bump stop looking things always fall off.

if you jack under the control arm of a Subaru for example: the joint of the ball joint is in the steering knuckle, when the vehicles weight is pushing down on the joint any play will be harder to feel.

If he's an old man, or a young man that only works on old man cars he is only correct if the coil spring would place a load on the lower control arm.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

Oh ok so where you jack it up it wouldnt matter? So pretty much there is play with tension. Im in college now and i must of misheard the teacher because i thought for any car to check ball joints you would jack from lower control arm. Thanks

Most honda's i have ever owned have a reinforced sheet metal part under where the fender and door meet to place the factory supplied spare tire jack, and it is the suggested place to jack the vehicle from as stated in the manual.

As for balljoint movement, swiveling movement i would say is okay as long as it isn't so easy that it flops around, the movement you want to check for is in and out.

Say this is the joint C--- You don't want it to be able to move either of these ways <---->. If it does that means the socket is ovaled (worn out) and it needs replaced.

 

[dsm4lif3]

No i no where to jack the car up i just was confused on the unloading the ball joints but i understand now. Thanks