LCA Ball Joint gave out. I am LUCKY SOB! (Pics)

[1987-300TD]

I was driving all around town yesterday. Freeways included.

Just as I was parking as I got home, the Lower Control Arm ball joint on the driver's side gave out! Best guess is that I was going less than 1 MPH as I pulled in front of our house. Ball Joint popped and I stopped!

It took another 3 hours to get completely off the street but I was extremely lucky this did not happen at 70MPH!!!

I knew my front end needed some work. I have been accumulating parts for quite a while. Alas, I did not recognize all the symptoms as being as bad as they were.

* I misinterpreted a "feathering wobble" as I pressed the brakes some times as worn rubber bushings.

* Near the very end, the steering was pulling much harder to one side. Then it would relax into alignment. Then it would pull again.
Tires are new so I did not think them to be the problem. Alas, I did not realize it was a much bigger problem.

Part of the inspiration to start replacing the bushings and linkages up front was a squeal I get when the bushings are wet. This is why I had started accumulating parts. However, this has been happening for approximately 12 months.

The moral of the story, Fix the Problem before it becomes a Bigger Problem!!! Safety first!!!

Thanks for letting me rant!

glenn

[mach4]

That can ruin your whole day...

[carl177]

You are a lucky fella.

How many miles on your car if you don't mind my asking.




[BillGrissom]

Lucky. Aren't the 1986+ ball joints installed "upside down" so that gravity wants to pull them out of the spindle? The K-frame top separated in my 1984 300D as my son was parking, splaying one tire wide toe-out. Not an endemic problem, that was a weld repair after an accident (stolen) before I bought it. Most such suspension failures seem to occur at low speed in parking lots or tight turns since that is where forces are the highest, as your power steering pump lets you know.

I researched lower control arm failures a bit after guys here screamed like Chicken Little. All I found, the car just dragged to a stop and the driver could still steer and brake. All happened at low speed. I didn't read of any roll-overs. The Sacramento Bee tested a Hummer 2 when they first came out and a ball joint broke off while they were just driving it around in the parking lot. Maybe not a rugged vehicle.

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

Lucky. Aren't the 1986+ ball joints installed "upside down" so that gravity wants to pull them out of the spindle? The K-frame top separated in my 1984 300D as my son was parking, splaying one tire wide toe-out. Not an endemic problem, that was a weld repair after an accident (stolen) before I bought it. Most such suspension failures seem to occur at low speed in parking lots or tight turns since that is where forces are the highest, as your power steering pump lets you know.

I researched lower control arm failures a bit after guys here screamed like Chicken Little. All I found, the car just dragged to a stop and the driver could still steer and brake. All happened at low speed. I didn't read of any roll-overs. The Sacramento Bee tested a Hummer 2 when they first came out and a ball joint broke off while they were just driving it around in the parking lot. Maybe not a rugged vehicle.

look up on google.de or co.uk or it etc.. etc - one guys 124 toppled over from the failure. e.g. W124 traggelenk fehler... or somethign similar.

in W124 world - confucious say - squeaky or old ball joint makes for bad day.

[yuke]

The man up above was with you consider yourself lucky. I have an 85 SD and about 3 weeks ago when I went to get it lined up the mechanic did not want to do the job as he said my upper ball joints were unsafe. I wish he would have showed me but he did'nt I told him to line it up anyway and I would take care of the ball joints later. Then I and another mechanic tried to find the play or wear we could see none but since I did know I was getting a strange groan every now and then I took his word and replaced them low and behold when I had them out of the car yes they had way too much play do'nt know to the point of being unsafe but very glad I changed them and I have a lot of respect for that mechanic as he saw something wrong that I could not spot. He also told me I have a bad wheel bearing in the front but he could not pinpoint which one I knew about that and was able to fix that also when I did the ball joints. These cars wear just like any others even maybe more so so with high milage cars
always be looking for potential problems.

[97 SL320]

Does NV have annual state safety inspection? If not, this is a perfect example of why annual inspections are needed.

The ball joint didn't snap off, the socket wore so much that the ball came out. This kind of thing just doesn't happen over a few miles, more like 10's of thousands.

Change the other side at the same time and expect a bent tie rod / tie rod sleeve. Have a close look at the wheel, if there are big gouges in the aluminum it may need to be replaced to prevent future cracking.

[vstech]

He has sent me a full set of joints and bushings, and I am rebuilding a set for him, por-15 and all...


Of course, now it is urgent I get it done...

[charmalu]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Does NV have annual state safety inspection? If not, this is a perfect example of why annual inspections are needed.

The ball joint didn't snap off, the socket wore so much that the ball came out. This kind of thing just doesn't happen over a few miles, more like 10's of thousands.

Change the other side at the same time and expect a bent tie rod / tie rod sleeve. Have a close look at the wheel, if there are big gouges in the aluminum it may need to be replaced to prevent future cracking.

No, Nevada does not have an annual vehicle inspection.
Nor does Kalif have one either.

Just fine with me, I don`t need some Grease Monkey crawling in and out and under my cars.
It`s just another way for the Govt. to add money to their coffers to waste.

Charlie

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by charmalu

No, Nevada does not have an annual vehicle inspection.
Nor does Kalif have one either.

Just fine with me, I don`t need some Grease Monkey crawling in and out and under my cars.
It`s just another way for the Govt. to add money to their coffers to waste.

Charlie

So you are OK with the original poster driving an unsafe car for over a year? Would you be OK if the suspension came apart and the car crossed the center line and hit you head on?

Please tell the list that you see nothing wrong with the way the OP took care of his car and feel that annual state safety inspections would not have prevented this from happening.

If you are going to drive on roads built and owned by someone else, you need to abide by the rules. In all states that included a drivers license, license plate for the car and in some states safety / emissions inspection.

Safety inspections done by private garages is hardly a money maker for the state. In my state the shop pays $ 5 for a sticker ( it was 2 for the longest time ). Deduct the cost of making the sticker ( they have a decent level of anti counterfeit marks ) , a state trouper going around to check records at shops and processing all of the collected data, there isn't much $ going to the govt.

[BillGrissom]

Florida had safety inspection in the 1970's, using state inspection stations. I spent a long time passing the brake test, as it was overly sensitive to any unequal braking between L & R. I don't recall Texas requiring them then. Indiana did, but using independent shops, which makes riff for cheating. Florida later dropped theirs because studies found that almost all auto accidents were caused by poor drivers, not poorly maintained cars, and there was often a strong correlation between the two anyway. The main part to fix is the defective biological element in the driver's seat.

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

So you are OK with the original poster driving an unsafe car for over a year? Would you be OK if the suspension came apart and the car crossed the center line and hit you head on?

Please tell the list that you see nothing wrong with the way the OP took care of his car and feel that annual state safety inspections would not have prevented this from happening.

If you are going to drive on roads built and owned by someone else, you need to abide by the rules. In all states that included a drivers license, license plate for the car and in some states safety / emissions inspection.

Safety inspections done by private garages is hardly a money maker for the state. In my state the shop pays $ 5 for a sticker ( it was 2 for the longest time ). Deduct the cost of making the sticker ( they have a decent level of anti counterfeit marks ) , a state trouper going around to check records at shops and processing all of the collected data, there isn't much $ going to the govt.

This point is what drives it home,

the safety inspection is not just for your vehicle and your safebeing, its for other drivers too.

If this car let go of the balljoint and swerved into a mommy van with child in seat and overturned it causing great injury - that situation would be very bad.

And it is also to prevent the sheer lunacy you can then expect to see rolling on the road as not everyone is a gearhead or turns wrenches as a hobby.

[charmalu]

Dang, that riled the up a Hornet`s nest.

[compress ignite]

'Glad to hear it was @ the Curb and @ Home.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by charmalu

Dang, that riled the up a Hornet`s nest.

And you didn't answer my prior questions.


So you are OK with the original poster driving an unsafe car for over a year? Would you be OK if the suspension came apart and the car crossed the center line and hit you head on?

Please tell the list that you see nothing wrong with the way the OP took care of his car and feel that annual state safety inspections would not have prevented this from happening.