Torn lower ball joints and torn tie rods – 2006 Nissan Sentra

ANSWER : Hi there. Unfortunately, diagnosing what type of service may have been performed by a different mechanic without physically inspecting the vehicle is difficult, as is knowing how long your vehicle can be driven with worn out ball joints and tie rods. The problem with worn out suspension parts is that they can fail and break, which can cause an unsafe driving situation.

It might be a better idea to have a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to inspect all the front end components for damage and give you an idea as to how much longer you can drive your vehicle before you must replace the damaged parts or buy a new vehicle.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The noise you are hearing may be a result of a wheel bearing or a shock issue. There are several tests that can be done while the vehicle is parked, and some while it is lifted off of the ground. The goal is to manipulate the wheels and suspension to replicate the noise. Try a simple bounce test for example to test out the shock on each tire. This is done by simply pressing down on the corner of the vehicle forcing it to bounce up and down. If you hear the noise, focus on your shocks. If not, you can move on to the wheel assembly. For more help with diagnostics or repairs, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Inspecting the suspension and steering components was a great idea. Did you perform a visual inspection, or did you actually raise the vehicle and maneuver the parts to check for excess play? However the brakes and the drive shaft can both causing a clunking noise when coming to a stop. Attempt to replicate the noise while backing up. If the brakes are of a concern, you will likely hear it in both directions. Something like your drive shaft may not be heard while backing up. Most of these components can be tested while on the vehicle, but you may need a hand. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department.

ANSWER : A lot of times, when you’re installing a ball joint into the lower control arm and trying to tighten the nut to lock in the ball joint shaft, the shaft will spin if you do not have enough pressure on the lower control arm. You will need to use a jack under the control arm as close to the ball joint as possible to push up on the joint so that the weight of the vehicle pushes the ball joint tight; then you should be able to tighten it. Make sure when using a jack under the lower control arm that you keep the vehicle supported with jack stands. If you need any professional assistance with this repair, you can always contact a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

ANSWER : Hello. The ball joint is available separately, and as part of the control arm assembly as you note. Although it can be purchased separately, removing it and replacing it into the control arm requires heavy duty presses and tooling (great force required). And if the control arm is aluminum, it is a more risky process since the aluminum is softer than steel, and the remove/replace process may not result in the ball joint fitting as tightly in the control arm as would be safe. For the mechanic, sometimes the separate ball joint is not readily available, only the control arm with ball joint. And the labor time to press out the old, press in the new may result in a more expensive repair anyway because of the additional labor cost. It’s a toss up sometimes, especially with parts availability being a deciding factor.

ANSWER : The front end suspension of a modern car has to be "tight" in order to be safe, work properly and, indeed, even to be aligned properly. If the ball joints and tie rod ends are loose, that means your tires are wearing out prematurely and there is also a risk of a sudden separation (breakage) of a suspension part. So, basically, anytime loose or worn out suspension parts are identified, they have to be replaced, all of them. There are no optional, or superfluous, parts when it comes to the front end. Either it’s in good repair or it isn’t. If you desire that these parts be professionally replaced on a mobile basis, at your location, thus saving you money, I recommend that you simply request ball joint replacement as well as tie rod end replacement. The responding certified mechanic will of course first confirm that the parts are no longer serviceable and then the mechanic will let you know if it is possible to replace just the ball joint or if the whole control arm assembly has to be replaced.

ANSWER : You install the boot after pressing the ball joint. Press the joint, install the snap ring, then install the boot. There is a metal ring molded in the boot. You will have to tap it on. I use one of the adapters from the press tool to do this.

If you feel like you need help with the installation, feel free to contact a certified technician who can ensure a proper installation by replacing your ball joints at your own convenience.

ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. Without having the vehicle to inspect, it is difficult to tell. The assembly of the hub and control arms to the ball joints can be difficult, and making sure it goes back exact is critical. There was likely a mistake made when reassembling the components. The replacement could have also been a mismatch depending on where you got it from. Without taking it in, or having us out to inspect it, you should start by taking wheel and rotor back off, and giving it a full visual inspection, of not attempting to realign it. Make sure you are following torque specifications on the repair as well. For more help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.