"I was wondering if anyone knew what "2 lower ball joints were in a car and how to replace them?"

Question

for a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado

Answer 1

i own a repair shop,and there sort of what helps keep the wheels strait on a car or truck and there located on the lower control arms in the front end,and if there bad you need to get them repaired as soon as possible ,because they can make a wheel bend over while your driving,and his can cause you to wreck you wont have no control over the steering at all when this happens,so if you was told they need replacing,then they probably do,but have it fixed ,because they can be dangerous,,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 2

You COULD go get the Chilton's Guide for your 1997 Silverado from the library with a free check out and find out the very delicate expert construction of the ball joints and then gain an appreciation for the importance of letting a professional do the job - - - if done wrong (or left unrepaired) you can have a horrible accident. The ball joints are key to holding up and manipulating your suspension. If you can't afford all the work at once, ask the mechanic to tell you what absolutely HAS to be done now and finish the rest soon.

Answer 3

Ball joints are mostly found on rear wheel drive cars, like your truck. They are a very important piece of hardware. They are at the top and bottom of what is called the spindle( what actually your front wheels swivel on) You truck has 4 ( 2 upper and 2 lower ball joints) at one time most ball joints had grease fittings and like regular oil changes had to be greased to keep them lubricated.But a few years back most car company's started to fit car with sealed ( no grease fittings) ball joints and these don't need any attention till they failed. Your truck is worth getting fixed, it will help in so many ways, quieter ride, better tire wear and much less grinding noise when you turn the steering wheel. Its not a hard or costly repair but if you do decide to have it done, remember just about everything else under there is 10 years old and now would be a good time to fix what needs fixing.

Good Luck... and thanks for driving an American car!!!!

Answer 4

There are several answers here that tell what ball joints are so I won't go into that. I will tell you however that you should take it to a mechanic to have it done. Sometimes the ball joints are held to the lower control arm using rivets and sometimes they are just pressed in. If you don't have the know how or tools to do it, it can be a real problem. A torch, air hammer, and ball joint press are not out of line for tools that may be needed. To save some money, you can buy the ball joints and take them to a mechanic. If you go this route, buy Moog brand ball joints. They are more expensive, approx $35 a piece, but they last longer and are better engineered. Just remember to keep them lubed up.

Answer 5

It is possible that they have caused damage but not 100% certain. You should never need an alignment unless you have been in an accident or gotten work done on the vehicle that required an aliment as part of the service. When in doubt take it to a dealer, that's what I do. They will inspect the vehicle and tell you exactly what's wrong with it. Then you can take it to someone less expensive to get it fixed. As a side note: a few years back my Mercedes felt a little shaky on the highway. It turned out that it just needed the tires to be balanced...$50 problem fixed.

Answer 6

The ball joints are the pivoting parts on your vehicle that holds the wheel on and allows you to steer it as well.

I suggest buying the parts yourself and having a mechanic change them. It is a skilled job that requires special tools on a lot of newer vehicles. And since this is 4 wheel drive it is one of those vehicles that takes special tools.

After it is done your truck will need to be realigned and have its tires rotated in order to feel right driving.

Expect to pay for a couple of hours labor on this work. The ball joints themselves wont be all that much as GM uses them on a variety of vehicles. When all is said and done you will be out about $250 - $300. A lot of money but less than a payment on a new pick up and you wont have to worry about loosing a tire as you drive down the road.

Answer 7

I am sure if you don't already know what they are then you probably will need help getting it repaired. These are joints that hold the a-frame part, that holds the wheel on, to the frame. It has to be pounded out using a ball joint fork and is not usually an easy task. Once this is completed you will also need a front end alignment. GL !!

Answer 8

The lower ball joints are in the front of the car. They are part of the assembly that allows the steering wheel to turn the wheels of your car. They should be replaced by an authorized mechanis.

Answer 9

Truck has 2 upper, 2 lower. They are pressed in, need a tool, sometimes the lower control arm has to changed

Answer 10

I know what they are, and how to replace them, but if you don't, you should go to a shop! Not kidding, this is an important part of the suspension.
You might try looking at http://www.autozone.com for some tips and tricks