Replace ball joints to make sure car is safe to drive

Ever push your cart through the supermarket and it starts to fish-tale side to side?

Well, have you ever experienced that same feeling in your automobile? You're riding down the street and your car pulls to one side or the other?

This may mean your car has worn chassis parts.

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Worn parts, especially steering and suspension parts, reduce a driver's control over the vehicle. For vehicle safety, it's important that the braking, steering and suspension systems be in sound operating condition. Regular inspection of these three interrelated systems and replacement of worn parts help assure safer, trouble-free driving.

Chassis parts, like balls joints, play a vital role in safety by helping maintain optimum steering control and providing superior handling and stability.

Ball joints serve as the pivot points between the tires and suspension. Ball joints also support weight. On some vehicles, the ball joints may be used to make wheel alignment settings.

Ball joints feature a threaded and pin-locked cover plate for maximum security and uniformity. The polished full-ball stud and CNC-machined housing deliver smooth, consistent stud articulation with unequalled concentricity mile after mile. A protective boot prevents dirt from entering the joint assembly. Ball joints are used on the front end of virtually every car and light truck. Vehicles with conventional suspension systems use two ball joints per wheel: an upper and a lower ball joint.

Let's looks at some maintenance tips. Ball joints, along with other suspension components, should be inspected annually along with a complete wheel alignment. The most common vehicle symptoms associated with worn ball joints are wandering, uneven tire wear, and erratic steering. Ball joint inspection methods and specifications vary, so have your vehicle inspected by a qualified service professional.

For more information on chassis part maintenance, click here.