Do Small Car Steering Ball Joints Need Lubrication?
1 Answers
Small car steering ball joints are generally sealed and cannot be disassembled, so they do not require lubrication. The ball joints already contain lubricant from the manufacturing process. Types of Ball Joints: Different suspension systems have different types of ball joints. MacPherson strut independent suspensions only have steering ball joints and lower support ball joints. Causes of Ball Joint Wear: Multi-link suspensions have more ball joints, including upper and lower control arm support ball joints. Steering ball joint wear can be detected by turning the steering wheel. The free play of the steering wheel is usually within 15 degrees. If it exceeds this range, have one person turn the steering wheel while another feels the steering ball joint. If the tie rod moves but the steering knuckle does not, this indicates significant wear on the steering ball joint, requiring replacement. For support ball joints and control arm ball joints, lift the vehicle so the wheels are off the ground. Have one person move the tire up and down to check for play. If the tire moves easily up and down, the ball joint has excessive play and needs replacement. The specific ball joint with severe wear can be identified by observing its movement. Regardless of the type, severely worn ball joints can cause noticeable wheel wobbling, jumping, or swaying at low speeds, along with unresponsive steering. Other issues include lack of lubrication and rust.
