Lower Balljoints Loose On Gmt900 39,000 Mi

[Spurshot]

I was turning into my work's parking garage a few days back and noticed a small "pop". Heard it several times since. Always when turning tight (not to the lock) and seemed to be coming from the left side. I stopped by Johnson's Alignment (best frontend shop in the SouthBay of LA) today. Inside 10 minutes they had diagnosed it. They had me come down in the pit and showed me the play in the left lower balljoint. They moved it whle I held my hand on it. Sure enough. Loose enough to make the clunk. The right side is just a little loose. Tops are fine.

 

Anyway, I've been away from the board for a while and over on a Nikon camera board, a doubleshotgun board, a couple bbq forums, etc. So, I don't know the latest on the balljoint availability and which may be the best.

 

Any help you guys can provide on selecting a replacement balljoint would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Chuck

[C. Charles Hahn]

I think the only option still is buying the moog lower control arm with the balljoints already in them....

[Doug_Scott]

You also need to make sure that the play you are feeling is out of spec. The load bearing ball joint is usually allowed some axial play (up and down). By design the load bearing joint is always under load (that means the ball is being pulled into the socket of the joint and that pretty much takes up any play you had). Were they moving the wheel up and down to show you the play?

 

Keep in mind it has been 20 years since I was "retired" from the trade (career ending, at work, injury). I have not looked at the front end to see which joint is the load bearing joint either, but strongly suspect it is the lower. The non load bearing joint is generally not allowed any play.

 

I know you said it was not against the steering lock, but, check the steering stops to see if they are dry anyways. Also take a look at the stab links. Dry ball joints will also cause a noise, and may not show any play at all.

[sonjaab]

Another leveling kit victim ball joint failure?

[trucc_boi]

i've got leveling kit and i have heard one pop but that was going over a storm drain (small dip) at full lock.

 

i'm not 100% convinced it was the truck as i was jamming music.. could have been the grate but it felt like a balljoint pop (have em on my blazer)

 

edit: 37k miles

[ajswenson]

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

[sab316]

My left one has popped a few times turning in to uneven parking spots at full lock. Then the other day I had to make a hard left turn to park on some spots slanting downhill and I whipped in there cause a car was coming down the road, and from the passenger side POP! I'm still trying to not believe it hopefully my dealer won't be a ass about it.

 

Oh and I'm at 19,000 miles

[ffthornton]

Sometimes my left side will pop and sometimes it dont. I dont think it is ball joints. I think it the leveling kit binding.

[ChrisNJ]

my 07's been poping on the left side since new. slow right hand turns, like a parking lot, forward or reverse. she still acts like new on the highway though.

fyi, just was on vacation, drove a lexus mid-size suv, chrysler town and country van and a really nice saturn. thought they were all nice for what they are, but when i got back in my truck a week later doint 75 on the highway home from the airport, i was like WOW, this thing is awesome!

[Spurshot]

Another leveling kit victim ball joint failure?

 

SonJaab,

Well...I don't really think so. I installed Bilstein adjustable ride height shocks last yr with the spring perches set at the first groove up from the stock height. That results in a 5/8" lift. I also put 285-70/17 tires on stock rims. Neither of these mods seem excessive to me. Frankly, I thought the balljoint failing due to leveling kits was the uppers.

 

Doug,

It's almost assuredly out of spec. The play was enough to feel a clunk and I'd estimate it was .060"-.080" or so. I could put an indicator on it but I'm going to change the dang thing anyway. The right side is just a little loose, but it's likely dry inside as well. With no way to lube these silly balljoints, they have to go. Regardless, I'm not driving much past this summer on it. The tires are starting to cup a little too. I'm traveling across the country at least once, maybe twice this hunting season and I don't need to scrub the tires down.

[ajswenson]

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

 

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but i'll give an update anyway. Brought the truck in....told them about the problem, they swore it was going to be an intermediate steering shaft or something. Turned out to be upper ball joint and wheel bearing! Why are these things wearing out on a truck with only 35,000 miles on it?

 

I had them replace because it is still under warranty, if it had not been under warranty i definitely would not have replace with GM parts. Oh, I also tried to talk them into doing both sides, they didn't go for it.

[pm26]

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

 

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but i'll give an update anyway. Brought the truck in....told them about the problem, they swore it was going to be an intermediate steering shaft or something. Turned out to be upper ball joint and wheel bearing! Why are these things wearing out on a truck with only 35,000 miles on it?

 

I had them replace because it is still under warranty, if it had not been under warranty i definitely would not have replace with GM parts. Oh, I also tried to talk them into doing both sides, they didn't go for it.

 

 

Because they are cheaply made, from soft steel, probably either in Mexico or China. GM is constantly looking for cheaper parts, even if it means lower quality. I agree, you may be better off with good quality aftermarket replacement here.

[Daryl LBZ]

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

 

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but i'll give an update anyway. Brought the truck in....told them about the problem, they swore it was going to be an intermediate steering shaft or something. Turned out to be upper ball joint and wheel bearing! Why are these things wearing out on a truck with only 35,000 miles on it?

 

I had them replace because it is still under warranty, if it had not been under warranty i definitely would not have replace with GM parts. Oh, I also tried to talk them into doing both sides, they didn't go for it.

 

 

 

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

 

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but i'll give an update anyway. Brought the truck in....told them about the problem, they swore it was going to be an intermediate steering shaft or something. Turned out to be upper ball joint and wheel bearing! Why are these things wearing out on a truck with only 35,000 miles on it?

 

I had them replace because it is still under warranty, if it had not been under warranty i definitely would not have replace with GM parts. Oh, I also tried to talk them into doing both sides, they didn't go for it.

 

 

Because they are cheaply made, from soft steel, probably either in Mexico or China. GM is constantly looking for cheaper parts, even if it means lower quality. I agree, you may be better off with good quality aftermarket replacement here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether Im under warranty or not, when mine decide to go Im replacing them with Moog ones.

[441G]

we are replacing the uppers (they are control arm assemblys) about every week. our lowers seem to be holding up a little better. the lowers are #19209396. none of our trucks are lifted.

[441G]

I think that I may be having the same problem, and I do not have a leveling kit. I'll have to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out.

 

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread, but i'll give an update anyway. Brought the truck in....told them about the problem, they swore it was going to be an intermediate steering shaft or something. Turned out to be upper ball joint and wheel bearing! Why are these things wearing out on a truck with only 35,000 miles on it?

 

I had them replace because it is still under warranty, if it had not been under warranty i definitely would not have replace with GM parts. Oh, I also tried to talk them into doing both sides, they didn't go for it.

 

 

 

if yours is 4wd like ours the hubs do seem to wear out quickly - we are replacing them with bca #br930661