What happens if ball joints aren't fixed?

Question

My truck has a ball joint on the right front tire that needs to be fixed. Its been like that for a month since i'm still trying to find the funds to fix it. A couple days ago its started to pop really bad and creeks when I turn. I plan on fixing it within the next couple weeks. I'm curious what can happen if they don't get fixed?

Answer 1

The wheels could fall off your car and you get killed

Answer 2

If it has a grease fitting on it, keep it lubed like every month give it a shot of grease. This will hold you for quite a while.

When they finally get so bad that they can fail, what happens is the "ball" pulls through and the lower "A" arm will separate from the spindle knuckle and hit the ground. The upper will remain intact and usually keep the wheel from falling off but the tire will immediately grab the wheel well and slow the truck and damage the tire. The coil spring might come out and roll under the truck as well.

I passed a very old on on-coming Chevy van coming across the Bridge of the America's in Panama when this happend to the van but he was not going that fast (do to a very old and worn out motor) and managed to keep it in his lane but I was easing to the other lane foot off the gas and ready to slam on the brakes. Missed a head on collision.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

I have seen this question asked by you at least 3 times in the last 3 weeks. What is your dysfunction? You don't deserve a driver's license. WAKE UP, MORON! You are going to KILL somebody someday. Does that make you feel good because you saved a little money not fixing your vehicle? FIX YOUR F''''IN VEHICLE and quit WHINING about what will happen if you don't.

Answer 4

The worst case would be that it separates. That would be catastrophic. The top or bottom, depending on the joint, of the wheel would come loose and you could lose control. You would have little or no steering control. If, during the accident investigation, it was found that the ball joints were bad you could be cited for defective equipement. Bottom line, if you know they are bad get them fixed or quit driving the vehicle.

Answer 5

Well the failure could be disasterous at highway speed...loss of control--complete failure could separate the parts from the mounts--not a good thing at all---please drive carefully but it is a big risk. Do both as they are equally old and the other one will go soon. These things just go--they all need repacing sooner or later--it just goes with owning a vehicle. Put some money aside when you can--it will come in handy for the next unexpected repair.

Answer 6

In the short term it can cause some nasty tire wear. Worst case is the Ball Joint pops out of its socket, you lose control of the vehicle and crash.

Answer 7

What your common sense tells you? If you get lucky enough and nothing happen, you could end up with more crap to fix due to a bad part. That is the best case scenario...

Logic dictates, park it and fix it right away... like now!

Answer 8

if it breaks and comes loose it will do about 4 times more damage to the front end ,not to mention cause you to probably have an accident,right now its probably a 100 thing to get on and get the front end aligned again,if it breaks it becomes a few hundred to repair,plus you could hurt your self or someone else,because you wont have very good control over the truck when it breaks,best to get it repaired as soon as possible,good luck with it.

Answer 9

The joint can break and cause you to completely lose control and crash, I would definitely get it fixed asap.

Answer 10

Your wheel might come off in a corner and you could end up killing someone. Get it fixed.

Answer 11

best case--tire wear and swaying
worse case-- u-joint comes apart and tire flops on its side after you hit a bump in the road