Ball Joint Question

[itsnotmydaddys]

i mentioned this in antoher thread but got little response. my front left ball joint is squeaking like no ones business. its when i turn te wheel or just drive. i took it to midas when i got brake work done, the guy told me to stick a needle full of wd 40 in it to fix it. that sounds kinda ghetto rigging it for the time being. i saw that theres a recall on the ball joint but i cant afford to take it in, if its not covered under warranty.
My questions
1. what should i do?
2. should i stick it with a needle
3. it this a recall through ford

 

[DLS8K]

i mentioned this in antoher thread but got little response. my front left ball joint is squeaking like no ones business. its when i turn te wheel or just drive. i took it to midas when i got brake work done, the guy told me to stick a needle full of wd 40 in it to fix it. that sounds kinda ghetto rigging it for the time being. i saw that theres a recall on the ball joint but i cant afford to take it in, if its not covered under warranty.
My questions
1. what should i do?
2. should i stick it with a needle
3. it this a recall through ford

When my ball joints were going bad, the made a clunking sound in the front end. I'm no mechanic, but it doesn't sound like ball joints to me........maybe a wheel bearing (but those I heard make a growling noise). Hopefully someone else has some knowledge on squeaking when you turn the wheel or are driving.

 

[jlser]

It's the ball joints. I just got my 2001 V8 sport back from the LM dealer a few weeks ago after having the same sqeaking/squealing noise when turning the steering wheel. With only 21000 miles on the car, they replaced both ball joints.

 

[SurfjaxLS]

I only get a squeak when I go over a bump or something early in the day (when car is cold). It goes away when the car gets warmer. I've had both ball joints replaced a while ago, and not sure why it sounds like I need them replaced again.

 

[LsCrazed]

The ball joint recall is just to re-torque them. I wouldnt think that you need to replace them just cause they squeak (for now). They have just dried out a little inside, hence the squeak. The bad news is that for every squeak, its doing some damage to the ball joint.

I would get concerned when it really starts grabbing all the cracks in the road. Like when changing lanes etc.

 

[itsnotmydaddys]

hey jlser did your warranty cover it or do u have a warranty.

 

[jlser]

Warranty covered it. I got the 7/60k Premium Care. Between the ball joints, tie rod ends, window regulator, and headlamp replacement, the cost of the warranty has almost totally been recovered in the three months that I've owned the car.

 

[lsbit]

I only get a squeak when I go over a bump or something early in the day (when car is cold). It goes away when the car gets warmer. I've had both ball joints replaced a while ago, and not sure why it sounds like I need them replaced again.

What about those sway bar bushings?

 

[itsnotmydaddys]

what should i do its squeaking over enything its soo embarasing, should i stick it with a needle aqnd put wd40 in it?

 

[jlser]

I wouldn't recommend putting WD40 in there. If these are the type of ball joint that have the plastic in them, the WD40 would most likely make it wear out faster. When my grandfather first encountered the greasless ball joint he would take a drill and drill a hole where the grease fitting normally goes and then thread a grease fitting in the hole. That was about 20 years ago, so I don't know it that could be done or if it would be safe to do with a modern ball joint.

 

[billvaughn]

I did the needle thing but used grease on a 99 Explorer. Bought the biggest one I could find at a local feed store. It was tuff getting the grease out, so I heated it up a bit with a heat gun (blow dryer will work). It worked up until we sold it so I don't know if it is still working...We held on to it for at least 3 months after doing it.....Good temp fix, of course the best thing to do is get them replaced if you got the $$$$$

 

[DLS8K]

I only get a squeak when I go over a bump or something early in the day (when car is cold). It goes away when the car gets warmer. I've had both ball joints replaced a while ago, and not sure why it sounds like I need them replaced again.

I had this problem on my car. After getting my ball joints replaced under warranty, I still wasn't pleased with the amount of rattles/squeaks in the front end. I would check your stabilizer bar and your stabilizer links. Also, Ford does not make the bushings for your stabilizer bar........they send the whole bar.

 

[lsbit]

Also, Ford does not make the bushings for your stabilizer bar........they send the whole bar.

They sold the bushings to me for $10.00 ea and I replaced them just weeks ago. Not fun.