What are the signs of bad ball joints? I've always heard it's a popping sound. My Corolla is making popping noises from the front suspension when I'm going slow in a parking lot and have to hit the brakes hard, like the suspension/car shifts for and aft, not while just cruising and hitting bumps. Ball joints? Thanks.
Ball joint symptoms?
- Thread starter Drew99GT
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It could be ball joints. It could also be control arm bushings and/or bushing mounts. I suppose that it could also be top strut mounts, though those usually make noise in other circumstances (bumps, etc).
The best thing I ever bought to find noises is "chassis ears". Sure it cost be about $200, and I'm not rich, but it has helped me find numerous noises which would have cost me a lot more money to diagnose if I did not have these. The chassis ears have paid for themselves many times over in labor and frustration.
Could be. Jack it up and tug. See if you can get a hand on the joint and knuckle while someone turns the wheel so you could feel it popping through its angle of rotation-- both loaded on pavement and in the air. Harder than it seems of course-- and don't get pinched.
Can also be loose caliper bolts, subframe bolts, a sway bar rubbing, frozen end link...
Can also be loose caliper bolts, subframe bolts, a sway bar rubbing, frozen end link...
what year is your corolla?
BTW: most of the high mileage recent corollas would also suffer from that dreaded "clunk" due to worn sway bar end links (which is essentially some small packed ball joints).
Don't discount that possibility as well.
Q.
BTW: most of the high mileage recent corollas would also suffer from that dreaded "clunk" due to worn sway bar end links (which is essentially some small packed ball joints).
Don't discount that possibility as well.
Q.
It's a 94.
check ball joints, all rubber bushings, sway bar bushings, etc. for cracks and deterioration. Replace them all if possible.
I rarely encounter failed ball joints in Toyota cars.
Sway bark links are the most common problem, and failure of control arm bushings is the second most common.
Sometimes the noise happens because the upper strut mount is worn. Have someone bounce the front of the car up and down, and listen to the top strut mounts for noise. If this happens, get a Monroe quick-strut or the equivalent.
Sway bark links are the most common problem, and failure of control arm bushings is the second most common.
Sometimes the noise happens because the upper strut mount is worn. Have someone bounce the front of the car up and down, and listen to the top strut mounts for noise. If this happens, get a Monroe quick-strut or the equivalent.
Popping is often sway bar links, but it could be anything. Visual check and looking/feeling for loose parts needs to be done. Expect it to be hard to track down.
Ball joints often have model/design specific noises associated with them, but they could be other things as well. For example, Ford truck IFS ball joints tend to make a loud creaking noise when going over bumps when they start to go bad, but it can also just be dry sway bar bushings.
Ball joints often have model/design specific noises associated with them, but they could be other things as well. For example, Ford truck IFS ball joints tend to make a loud creaking noise when going over bumps when they start to go bad, but it can also just be dry sway bar bushings.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
My Corolla is making popping noises from the front suspension when I'm going slow in a parking lot and have to hit the brakes hard
Those popping noises wouldn't be happening as you're rolling over dips in the parking lot would they ?
I'm talking about the dips you see in parking lots that are there to route water to the storm drain.
My Corolla is making popping noises from the front suspension when I'm going slow in a parking lot and have to hit the brakes hard
Those popping noises wouldn't be happening as you're rolling over dips in the parking lot would they ?
I'm talking about the dips you see in parking lots that are there to route water to the storm drain.
Originally Posted By: supton
I thought with ball joints you should jack up the corner the car using a floor jack under the control arm. That way the suspension stays loaded. Then see if the wheel rocks.
You would do that if it is a "loaded" design- that is if the ball joint carries weight.
Drew's Corolla will have a strut up front that is not "loaded", so he would need to jack up the car somewhere else other than the control arm.
I thought with ball joints you should jack up the corner the car using a floor jack under the control arm. That way the suspension stays loaded. Then see if the wheel rocks.
You would do that if it is a "loaded" design- that is if the ball joint carries weight.
Drew's Corolla will have a strut up front that is not "loaded", so he would need to jack up the car somewhere else other than the control arm.
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