Tracking/ball Joints

[P38Aaron]

Howdy

Had my car lowered just before christmas, car drives all nice and smooth, wheels even balanced well!

out for a drive at the weekend hit a bump in the road (couldn't see it, just felt it) and now my tracking is all over the place bl***y typical, everytime i brake the steering vibrates from side to side like a :tsktsk: :tsktsk: toy. (some imagination needed there).

Hmm and theres us paying our road taxes, council taxes for this pleasure!

When i get the tracking sorted do i need to tell the garage that its been lowered so they compensate for this...(not getting it done at the same place)

Right thats me done moaning!

Anyway...How do i know if my ball joints are on there way out? Does an MOT check them?

Cheers in advance.

Aaron

[chips229]

Hi Aaron,

The ball joints and all other suspension parts should be checked when the cars M.O.Ted.

To check for wear on the ball joint,with the wheel on the car and no need jacking the car off the ground.

Grab the top of the tyre/wheel and push and pull from the side of the car.If theres movement with the wheel then it will more than likely be wear in the ball joints.Because the cars been lowered you might not be able to see the ball joint move when you push/pull the wheel.

When your driving the car and cornering as the suspension loads up if the ball joints are worn you will feel the car suddenly lurch off line making you put more steering input in..VERY VERY unnerving

Feeling

Good Luck.

Chips..

[P38Aaron]

Thanks for the reply Chips.

I did those checks after hitting the bump and got no movement, so things must be good their.

I knew that little test for wheel bearings, handy to know its for ball joints too.

When I painted my calipers the other week i gave all the joints under their a spray with 3in1.

Steering feels good, just braking with the vibrations.

Thanks again for the advice, im sure others will benefit from this too :)