We are often asked, “What happens if I don’t replace my loose ball joint?” Well, your ball joints are a very important piece of your suspension. It is a ball and socket type of joint that allows circular movement but no vertical or side to side movement. If your ball joints breaks your car will be dead in its tracks, and it will usually ruin the brake hose, axle shaft, tire and the wheel it may even damage the fender. We inspect your ball joints and suspension every time your car is in for service. Signs of a loose ball joint are; abnormal and premature tire wear, a pull in one direction or the other and an unstable feeling while driving at higher speeds. Other signs of a loose or worn ball joint are a clunking noise while hitting bumps, a tire that is sitting at a funny angle compared to the other tires. Also bear in mind there may be no signs or symptoms at all. That’s why having them inspected with your routine maintenance is very important. Also be aware that in order to inspect your ball joints properly, your vehicle has to be off the ground. At Long’s we thoroughly inspect your vehicle while it is on the hoist so that we can test all of your vehicles components, to make sure everything is in tip top shape. We also do digital inspections with photos, and videos, so that when we email them to you, you can see for yourself what the issues are. So if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please give us a call, so that we can get you in and figure out what the issue is, we want you and your family to have peace of mind that your vehicle is in good, safe driving condition.
