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Joined: May 2000
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Hmmm - Do you have any "play" in the steering (i.e. loose feeling)? If so, then ball joints could certainly be bad. But if not, and its just the alignment off, I doubt its the ball joints.
I had an alignment problem with my car, and it turned out to be worn out control arm bushings. The rubber bushings just wear and rot away, making it impossible to align the car. I ended up replacing the front control arms, which came with new bushings and new ball joints. But that fixed the problem.
It's a big job and isn't cheap. I did it myself, but it took me most of a weekend due to a series of problems I ran into. A mechanic will charge at least $300 just in labor.
'96 Contour SE, black / opal grey, MTX, every option, KKM intake, resonator removed, Flowmaster Series 40 DeltaFlow, GoodYear Eagle HP's, 115k miles, new paint 7/01. Driven cross-country 4 times.
'70 Corvette Stingray Coupe, Cortez Silver, 454 bored to 462, Muncie M21, too many mods to list, lots of fun. 335 rwhp / 365 rwtq
'02 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue / Black, every option. Stock for now...
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 364
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OP
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Posts: 364 |
Originally posted by stingray454:
Hmmm - Do you have any "play" in the steering (i.e. loose feeling)? If so, then ball joints could certainly be bad. But if not, and its just the alignment off, I doubt its the ball joints.
I had an alignment problem with my car, and it turned out to be worn out control arm bushings. The rubber bushings just wear and rot away, making it impossible to align the car. I ended up replacing the front control arms, which came with new bushings and new ball joints. But that fixed the problem.
It's a big job and isn't cheap. I did it myself, but it took me most of a weekend due to a series of problems I ran into. A mechanic will charge at least $300 just in labor. There is a little play in the steering. Goes to the left. Service Tech says it would be stupid to have it alighned, it will just go out again quick. He said they check everything before they do the alighnemnt and this is what they found. Said arms, were fine and bushings. I may let them do it. There is small clunk in the front when you go over a large potholes.
2002 Mitsui Lancer-Black MTX.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Hopefully they checked the joint with a dial indicator. Some states have inspection laws that cover suspension clearances and the shops know how to check the ball joints. I've seen some cars back in PA hit a pot hole and pop a joint, the car will land flat on the ground. Toe-in, broken engine/tranny mount and sub-frame alignment will make it veer left too. Also, a bad tire (radial pull or bad belt) can draw it off course. These cars are touchy on the toe-in settings.
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Joined: May 2000
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Originally posted by Jaretednt1:
There is a little play in the steering. There is small clunk in the front when you go over a large potholes. Yeah, that sounds like bad ball joints then.
'96 Contour SE, black / opal grey, MTX, every option, KKM intake, resonator removed, Flowmaster Series 40 DeltaFlow, GoodYear Eagle HP's, 115k miles, new paint 7/01. Driven cross-country 4 times.
'70 Corvette Stingray Coupe, Cortez Silver, 454 bored to 462, Muncie M21, too many mods to list, lots of fun. 335 rwhp / 365 rwtq
'02 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue / Black, every option. Stock for now...
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