i recently had my front ball joint fixed. and my car is making the same noise again. am i doing something wrong? what are the causes for a ball joint to break or wear out??
i drive hard , brake hard like to lock up the tires, take car off road, ball joints, tear them up all the time
Use brake fluid only, no grease or oil of any sort because it will cause rubber brake parts to swell and soften. You might make sure the piston and cylinder are smooth and free of any corrosion. Steel wool works good for cleaning them.
It is perfectly fine to use a small, very small amount of silicone spray/gel (NOT silicone sealant) in order to avoid cutting the o-ring(s) upon piston reinstallation. not grease or oil of any kind. Do make sure the bore and piston are extremely smooth. A piece of scotch-brite works well, but make damn sure all traces of any abrasive material is rinsed from the area. Silicone will not react negatively with the brake fluid
Yes, It is the drivers fault (for not having the front end checked regularly) Did you replace just one ball joint? If you did, then chances are the others are worn out also! Ball joints wear every time you turn a corner, they do not last forever they wear just like every other part on a vehicle and need regular maintenance!
Ball joints are highly stressed components of the front suspension system. They must hold up the weight of the vehicle and articulate in various rotational directions when the vehicle is in motion, going around turns, and negotiating bumps and pot holes in the road. They break more often than we prefer. One situation that we can hold up as a bad example is the way rental vehicles are sometimes driven by unsavory customers who don't give a damn about the car and drive as if they are participating within a demolition derby. The way these drivers maneuver and stress a vehicle's components can lead to premature failure of any/all drivetrain, brake, suspension, frame, etc. components. I would not be surprised if your vehicle was once in the fleet of rental cars and has suffered at the hands of an uncaring customer. Good Luck
