Maintenance
Sealed ball joints do not require lubrication as they are "lubed
for life" but standard ball joints must be lubed from time to time. It's best
to inspect standard ball joints once a year. Generally speaking, standard ball
joints will outlive sealed ones because eventually the seal will break, causing
the joint to dry out and rust. While there is no exact lifespan that can be put
on a sealed ball joint, they can fail as early as 80,000 miles. Signs of a failing
ball joint start with a clicking or snapping sound when the wheel is turned
and eventually turns into a squeaking sound at the end of a stop, when the gas
pedal is used and/or also when hitting bumps. Another symptom could be 'thud'
noises coming from front suspension when going over bumps.
If a ball
joint fails, the results can be dangerous as the wheel's angle will be unconstrained,
causing loss of control. Because the tire will be at an unintended angle,
the vehicle will come to an abrupt halt damaging the tires. Also, during failure,
debris can damage other parts of the vehicle.
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