Were my Ball Joints Installed Correctly? Pics Attached

[rob17san]

I got these done by a friend. Ever since the car vibrates. He also replaced teh Hub with bearing and ABS sensor. I got my wheels balanced and my car aligned, and still nothing. Any help would be great.
Parts that are new within the last 3-6 months.

Ball Joints (lower)
Hub Bearings ABS on both sides
New Shocks all around
New Rotors and Pads
New Balance
New Alignment
Here are the pictures of each one, best pics I had.

http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=520306

http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=520307

 

[ExploringNC]

Can you tell if vibration is in front or back?

Does the vibration come and go with different speeds?

There is an inside and outside to a balljoint but even if it was done wrong it shouldn't cause a vibration.

 

[parad1mg]

Could you elaborate on this vibration that you're experiencing? Try troubleshooting all that was recently installed. Check for loose bolts like those on the brake assembly. IMO, i dont think it would be the balljoints or the shocks.. but that doesnt mean you dont have to check them..

 

[bluesman2333]

I don't know about Explorers, but some vehicles have a specific way the driveshaft needs to be installed. If it has been removed and reinstalled, was it installed right and not 90 degrees off?

 

[sdaviddr]

When mine suddenily started to viberate.I found that the driveshaft bolts loosened up.Last time the shaft was out was 4years ago!

 

[JoeMahma]

I got these done by a friend. Ever since the car vibrates. He also replaced teh Hub with bearing and ABS sensor. I got my wheels balanced and my car aligned, and still nothing. Any help would be great.
Parts that are new within the last 3-6 months.

Ball Joints (lower)
Hub Bearings ABS on both sides
New Shocks all around
New Rotors and Pads
New Balance
New Alignment
Here are the pictures of each one, best pics I had.

http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=520306

http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=520307

Is it just me or are those lower ball joints on upside down?

EDIT: Nope, that's the way they go in.

 

[Hokie]

Is it just me or are those lower ball joins on upside down?

No, they're right... not quite sure how you could install them upside down

 

[KooK]

Here's one for you, how do your tires look and how often do you rotate them? I say this simply because if your balljoints were worn out enough to cause a camber problem and you neglected to rotate your tires, you could have caused them to cup which will cause the vibration, even moreso when the alignment problem has been fixed. Run your hands across your tires from sidewall to sidewall and if it feels smooth chances are they are ok, but I'd have them checked out by a tire shop anyway. A lot of people and shops will overlook this it seems.

Just an idea.

 

[rob17san]

EXPLORERNC + Others thansk for trying to help.

THanks for your response. The vibration is a front vibration. It happens most evidently at 65mph. 60mph and under, it doesn't seem to vibrate. Specific portions of highway are smooth at 65 and others the wheel rocks back and forth left and right. One time I almost pulled over like the car was shaking left to right bad, but when I slammed the brakes it straightened out. I used to have a 4runner and it had a front stailizer shock going out. If anyone has ever experienced that, this is exactly what it feels like. It has alot of left to right vibrations.

As for the tires, they are in great shape. The alignment was off in the toe section only. If i was to say my tires were worn even a tiny bit on either side, it would be on the inside more then the others, but they are not cupped or anything. I have deep tread.

I also want to mention these are aftermarket 20" Wheels that I just had balanced at a local shop at the tune of $60.00 ( they have to use different weights so it was more money).

 

[rob17san]

To elaborate more on the vibration. Say you are driving along and have your hands on the wheel. You can see the steering wheel moving slight left to right at a high speed, a vibrating speed. It got slightly better after the balance, but now its back to vibrating alot again. seems not only a pain, but dangerous. I am afraid something is going to break from the stress.

 

[KooK]

Whoooaa, I have a Jeep and had the front stabilizer shock go bad on me. If it's anything like I had there, I can't even imagen what your problem is unless you have a stabilizer shock. Mine was just so incredibly violent that it forced me off the road a few times, I've never had anything like that happen to me before.

 

[rob17san]

Last response, I replaced all these parts as a preventative maintenance thing and not because they were super worn out. I had a pretty rough ride so I decided to change everything out. I only have 85k Miles on this explorer so I shouldnt have these issues right now. I know 20" wheels causes undo stress on your suspension so I changed those parts. I was wondering if anyone thinks it's my UPPER BALL JOINTS as I did not replace those, or my tie Rods?

 

[rob17san]

KOOK its not a insane violent thing, but it does remind me of the worn out stabilizer shock on my 4runner. Like if I could see the tires on the road as i was driving i think they woudl be moving left to right at a high rate of speed. Maybe, maybe not. Looking for opinions. I am very picky, but it is a real problem and not just my imagination.

 

[Willard]

seems to me like something could be loose in the steering. Is there excessive play in the wheel?

 

[boominXplorer]

Are the wheel weights on the inside lip only? If so thats your vibration. You need a dynamic balance.

 

[rob17san]

They are not the type of wheels to have weights on the inside and outside. They did put them on the inside and the middle. I never had any issues with the wheel balance before and I have had these for 4 years. Not sure if they were done correctly or not.

 

[rob17san]

The steering wheel feels fine. Who knows, I dont think its the wheel, maybe the steering components, but not the inside wheel.

 

[Willard]

thats what I meant, if the wheels loose, then something in the steering is bad

 

[JDraper]

Could have been a bad balance job, or the wheel could have tossed a weight. Try moving the front wheels to the back, and the back wheels to the front to see if it changes the vibration.

 

[rob17san]

my brother that works at a tire shop did the balance. He said he did it right, but who knows, he is new. I mistakenly said i paid $60 for the balance, but that was for something else on my 4runner. Do you think I should get it balanced again?