|
|
|
Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 4:33 AM
Post #1 of 16
(5529 views)
|
|
Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I have a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, and the lower passenger ball joint broke in half, and the car hit the ground hard. I replaced the ball joint, but now I have a screeching noise from that area of the car.
The noise is constant except when I hit a bump, then it stops.
I took the brake shield off thinking that may be rubbing up against brake disk, but that was not it. My friend said I may have ruined the strut/ shock .
Does anyone know what it could be?
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 6:34 AM
Post #2 of 16
(5488 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
That simply is going to need total checking out for what got damaged, a splash shield if damaged replaced and whatever else got wrecked which could be quite extensive. No way I can guess on something like that,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 1:42 PM
Post #3 of 16
(5464 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I checked out the front end , and the upper ball joint on the side where the lower ball joint broke off is slanted at an angle. The other side is straight.
I think when the lower broke, and control arm smashed the ground , it bent the upper ball joint upward.
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 1:51 PM
Post #4 of 16
(5458 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
you bent the whole control arm, thats why you have the angle. Replace all your ball joints now along with that arm or you will be in a very dangerous and expensive car.
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 1:55 PM
Post #5 of 16
(5457 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
Can I replace the upper ball joint first, and see if that gets rid of the noise. Then replace the control arm too if needed.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 2:05 PM
Post #6 of 16
(5450 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
Ball joints don't bend, control arms do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 2:12 PM
Post #7 of 16
(5444 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
Should I get the upper control arm with ball joint included, or just replace the control arm?
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 2:36 PM
Post #8 of 16
(5438 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
your lower ball joint was so old and worn out it actually seperated while driving. The one above it and the ones on the other side are just as old. Even if you could get your old ball joint out and into a new control arm you'd destroy it doing it. Replace all 4 and the arm you bent or risk destruction
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 3:29 PM
Post #9 of 16
(5420 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I'm worried about this sled...........
T
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 4:29 PM
Post #10 of 16
(5411 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I bought 2 new ball joints , but I will see if I can straighten out the control arm.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 5:20 PM
Post #12 of 16
(5393 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I'd really like to be there to watch how you straighten out that stamped steel control arm.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 13, 2012, 5:22 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 13, 2012, 5:43 PM
Post #13 of 16
(5383 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
I'd really like to be there to watch how you straighten out that stamped steel control arm.
I went on Google, and many red neck mechanics have taken the control arm off their car, and heated it with a torch, and said it wasn't like new , but did work.
I decided to buy brand new with lower ball joint included to save me all the trouble, and with shipping, I was able to find it for $86, I got a Rock solid deal. I am happy now. I may have to get front end alignment now.
(This post was edited by mercuryman on Jul 13, 2012, 5:44 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 13, 2012, 5:54 PM
Post #15 of 16
(5371 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
Unless your into metallurgy and understand the properties of different types of metals and what happens to them when they are heated, I recommend you buy a good used or new control arm.
The lower arm is probably tool steel and heating it up will probably make it brittle like glass. There is a reason that body shops replace bent suspension parts. I have never seen a body shop trying to straighten out bent suspension control arms.
edit: Your making a good decision replacing the arm.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 13, 2012, 5:58 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
mercuryman
User
Jul 14, 2012, 4:15 AM
Post #16 of 16
(5354 views)
|
|
Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
|
Sign In
|
|
Thanks for all the advice. After I repair this, I am getting something newer in a few months.
This Mercury has 250,000 miles, and just about every part has been replaced.
I am going to miss working on my cars, cause the next one will only be a couple years old, and the computer mechanics will do all the work.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
1989 toyota pickup 3.0 crank no start
Please Help - Knock sound & engine fail
