How Much Lower Ball Joint Play? - Highway Steering Vibration

[BarryCarey]

Hey All,

I'm getting a pretty bad steering wheel shake that comes and goes above 65 mph.

One of my inner tie rods had play so I replaced inner and outer on both sides.

This didn't fix the shaking.

There's no play in either wheel when jacked up.

All ball joints seem okay, boots are intact. One upper is relativity new.

However, I noticed if I pry between the LCA and knuckle I can move the knuckle up about 1/8 of an inch. Is this normal? The other side moves but not as much.

So the question is, should I be able to move the knuckle at all when prying between the LCA and knuckle?

 

[drdoom]

Barry that joint should be tight, go ahead and replace both sides.

 

[BarryCarey]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking but wasn't completely sure. Wanted to be sure since I'm in Maine and the layer of rust instantly adds 32% to the difficultly of most all jobs.

 

[swshawaii]

0-0.8mm (.032") Lower Ball Joint Deflection = Toast

Suspension System Specifications
https://www.scribd.com/doc/271399179/Suspension-System-Specifications

 

[BarryCarey]

0-0.8mm (.032") Lower Ball Joint Deflection = Toast

Suspension System Specifications
https://www.scribd.com/doc/271399179/Suspension-System-Specifications

Thanks for the link. Very helpful. They are very much out of spec.

I just realized 3rd gen and 2nd gen use the same lower ball joint. Perfect for me since I have a pair for new Raybestos Pro Grade lowers I bought for my 2nd gen last summer.

 

[BarryCarey]

Just to update.

I replaced both lowers today. Still shakes on the interstate. If anything it's worse now.

Looks like I'll be doing the uppers next. One is less than year old and was put on before I bought it. Looks to be lowest possible quality. The other looks to be OE.

If the uppers don't fix the shaking I'm out of ideas since pretty much everything would have been replaced.

The OE one just for giggles.

(HQ Image For Rust Lovers)

 

[EBfan]

Following this with interest as i have the same issue - Uppers look ok on mine but the lowers have wear (cracking) on the bushings as do the sway bar link bushings so everything you're currently replacing is on my list of to do's but it would be nice to hear what fixes yours - I also have no play in the wheels when jacked up as that's the first thing i checked

 

[LMHmedchem]

Have you checked simpler things like making sure that your tires are properly balanced? Throwing a balance weight can cause issues at high speeds.

LMHmedchem

 

[chrishw]

I know it's been a month or so... I have a similar problem and wanted to suggest some possible differences of opinion.


1st, from the way I read your post the ball joint has vertical movement. I think Ford/Moog says vertical play is OK, the spec is no more than 1/32 horizontal movement. Not that it will hurt anything putting ones with zero fittings on, only will help.

2nd, my problem was a wheel bearing. Of course when I went to replace it I noticed my upper ball joint was bad, and when that's off its real easy to see the lower was bad too, and the tie rod end too... I miss greaseable parts!

Please correct me if I am wrong about the vertical play being in spec!

I hope you fixed it- mines much better after I did the driver size, but still some vibration. working on passenger side now!

 

[BarryCarey]

I'm not sure if the spec was virtual play or not.

Once side was completely shot. It was hard to tell on the car but once I got the knuckle off it was clear she was worn out.

As far as I can tell the wheel bearings seem okay. No noticeable play or noise.

Just got my Upper Control Arms today. Will hopefully have them on tomorrow.

 

[BarryCarey]

Put the UCAs on today. It helped with the vibration but it's not totally gone.

It comes and goes on the interstate. When I'm going around a bend it seems to start shaking pretty good.

I'm going to get the tires balanced tomorrow. They were brand new and put on right before I bought the vehicle. I would assume they were properly balanced but it should be worth checking.

If the tires are in balance I'm assuming the only thing left is the wheel bearings. However, I can't detect any play in them. Is there any other means of checking if they're bad?

 

[03Explo20]

if you can find a place that does Road Force Balancing, that's the way to go! This was happening on my Tacoma and I couldn't figure it out. They did the Road Force and found two of the tires needed rotated on the rim and weights added both inside and outside and all went away.

Just saying....