Ball Joint / Control Arm Question

[rgh96gt]

I just replaced the control arms and lower ball joints on my 1995 Explorer 4x4.
It rides alot better and no more squeaks but now when I turn the wheel when it is sitting still there is a chatter in the front end. We went over everything and it is all where it should be and everything is tight. I can't figure out what it could be. Any suggestions?

I also have a noob question.
I had never done suspension work before but couldn't shell out $1200 to have the ball joints replaced. When we removed the cam bolts on the drivers side we couldn't get them in the same way they came out. Can you put the bolt throught the control arm the opposite way and bolt it from the other side? We looked at the bolt and they looked the same on both sides. Will this screw something up? Any help is appreciated.

 

[curt1007]

I don't know what may causing the chatter but somewhere on this board I have read that it could be caused by air in the power steering system.Seach the messages on that and you should find it.
As for the the camber bolts I just replaced mine today and it was a pain to get them in the way they came out but I was finnaly able to get it done. I do believe it will make a difference, when you take it in to get alienged they will likely fix that to make it work.

 

[rgh96gt]

Thanks for the reply.

It wasn't making the chattering before we changed the ball joints. I will have to investigate if it is the air in the power steering.

As for the bolts... the bolt and the washer are the exact same size and shape. I don't really know what I am talking about but I just don't see how it could matter. Very strange. We tried everything we could think of to get it back in and it just wouldn't go. There was some kind of fluid line in the way that would not budge.

 

[jose22]

I don't know what may causing the chatter but somewhere on this board I have read that it could be caused by air in the power steering system.Seach the messages on that and you should find it....

I got the same problem so Ill check that solution too

Also is there a problem with installing a one piece design upper control arm,I had a two piece control arm before?

 

[corkey]

did you move the steering when the engine was off ??
if you answered yes, than start the engine and turn the steering all the way to the left and the right a few times to get the air out of the steering ,
and the shudder might just magically disapear,, i did a wheel bearing and mine did the same thing,,

 

[corkey]

I got the same problem so Ill check that solution too

Also is there a problem with installing a one piece design upper control arm,I had a two piece control arm before?

if it is on the passenger side there is ,, a one piece doesn't let them adjust when you do an alignment,,

 

[Walnut777]

Last year when my fuel pump died on me I had to have my X towed home. Well, to get the truck where I wanted it I had to steer it with the engine off.
After I finished the fuel pump installation, I fired her up for a test run. The seering was horrible! I remember there was a small sound, the steering felt just like it did when I had installed some sway bar links and didn't have them tightened enough.
Well, I had no clue what was going on and I was very upset. I went on to church that night and prayed about it. The next day I went outside, crunk her up and it had all stopped. I don't know why, but the steering was horrible when I parked it. Very strange but at least it's fixed!

 

[JDraper]

As has been mentioned above, the shudder is most likely air in the power steering system. If you move the steering rack with the engine off, you can cause air to be pulled into the system, causing the shudder. Also as mentioned above, the solution is to start the vehicle, and then go full left and full right several times. This flushes fluid through the system and purges the air, smoothing out the steering.

 

[rgh96gt]

Thank you for all of the replies.

I did move the steering with the engine off. I will go fire it up and turn the wheels right now.

Thanks again.

 

[jose22]

if it is on the passenger side there is ,, a one piece doesn't let them adjust when you do an alignment,,

Well yesterday I took it for alignment and they didn't say anything about it, so well see what happens.