Ball Join/Control Arm Wear

[johnd]

Does anybody know which wears out faster, upper control arms and ball joints or lower? Seems to me I remember that one wears out faster than the other but I can't remember which-is it lower?

 

[Gary Allan]

What type of front end? Strut? Double A arm?

Whatever the loaded member is ..that's the one that usually wears out first.

 

[Junior]

Usually the lower ball joint wears first.

 

[9c1]

The reason Gary Allen asked what type of front end is the ball joint that supports the weight of the vehicle will wear out first. On some front suspensions, such as the traditional Long Arm - Short Arm (LASA), that would be the lower. Other styles could carry the weight on the upper or the lower. So the answer is that it could be either, depending on the style of suspension.

 

[johnd]

Yes, I should have said as it does make a difference. It is a 1997 Camaro which is double "A" arm type. Unequal length, I think. I got and answer, finally, on a Camaro board that said lower bushings and then lower ball joints first. This is a good thing as I just bought two sets of 1LE lower control arm bushings at a very good price and looks like they will need replacing first.

 

[Merkava_4]

Yes, the lower ball joints and lower control arm bushings are what carries the load on your Camaro. If you ever have a front wheel drive car, the upper strut mounts are what carries the load on that type of suspension - FYI