? ball joint problem | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

? ball joint problem

nnyrma

New Member
Joined
April 17, 2011
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Year, Model & Trim Level
02 ford explorer
For past couple weeks I have been having problems with my steering. The only way to explain it is that when wheel is turned it "sticks". Its sometimes hard to turn...when it sticks it makes a click sound....?? I was told its probably lower ball joints. Tie rods were just changed....still having that problem. Any one else have this prob?
 






"clicks" are usually FWD or 4wd/AWD CV axles going or gone out.

Ball joints usually "pop" or "thunk/clunk" from literally popping up & down in the ball joint socket of the knuckle/steering upright.

Other non-audio tips to ball joints:

* vague steering
* lethargic/slow turn-in response to your steering wheel action then sudden fast changes at certain points.
* odd tire wear on one or more tires in the axle set


You can jack the truck up off the ground on one side. put your hands at 12noon & 6oclock and try to tip the wheel back & forth. If it jumps in & then jumps back at all, its an upper or lower or both.

Our trucks are at least nice enough to give us a great visual clue.. they just disintegrate. ther rubber boot between the steering knuckle/upright & the control arm should be solid, no tears, and fills the gap completely. usually after 60K-up they will be torn, shredded or just plain gone, the boots that is.

If you are hearing anything "rotational" like:
* rhythmic clicking usually CV joints, unless a front bearing hub has completely shredded its metal casing, very rare.
* speed proportional "whump whump whump" or whirring, usually the wheel bearing(s)

Steering part failures usually show in tire wear, weird steering feel/looseness, wandering on the road & pulling when brakes are applied.

Rob
 






I am going to take a guess, I am going to say your lower steering shaft is bad. The Ujoint in the shaft seizes up and causes the wheel to "stick" while turning. It will stick at the same place every one rotation. Am I right?


On a side note I have replaced 2 of these in the last 6 months on customers trucks.
 






Back
Top