Might Need New Ball Joints? Options

[mkernz22]

So I realized a while ago that my ball joints are starting to go in the front little by little. When I first got the car, the tires were decent, but after a while the inside of them became bald so I know I have a negative camber. I'm not dropped either so I know that that would not be the case. The car does put to the right a decent amount as well. I recently got new tires, still plls to the right and still has negative camber.

Do you think it's time for some new ball joints? cause I feel like it is.



EDDITT: I meant ball joint, not wheel bearings lmao wtf was I thinking??

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Oct 27, 2010 - 7:02 PM

[95CelicaST]

Do your bearings squeak going down the road? If you Jack the car up in the front can you grab a wheel and check for vertical play in it (Move it back and forth like positive and negative camber) ?

[mkernz22]

when i jack the car up the bottom of the wheels seem to move outward, like they were kind of tucked in a little bit


edit: also, they dont squeak when going down the road

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Oct 27, 2010 - 2:16 PM

[blu94gt]

when i jack the car up the bottom of the wheels seem to move outward, like they were kind of tucked in a little bit


edit: also, they dont squeak when going down the road

That's just from the suspension geometry moving as you raise the car.

And it's very likely you could have a bad alignment even if the suspension is stock. Car could have hit a nasty pothole, curb, have worn parts, been in an accident, etc. Toe could be out of adjustment to wear the insides as well (plus toe affects camber).

If you aren't getting squealing or grinding noises from the front, especially when you turn, then I'd say you need an alignment.

[mkernz22]

That's just from the suspension geometry moving as you raise the car.

And it's very likely you could have a bad alignment even if the suspension is stock. Car could have hit a nasty pothole, curb, have worn parts, been in an accident, etc. Toe could be out of adjustment to wear the insides as well (plus toe affects camber).

If you aren't getting squealing or grinding noises from the front, especially when you turn, then I'd say you need an alignment.

Haha funny you say that because my car was in an accident
Though the camber was negative before that.
I'll get an alignment at my school since it's free, and see how it is then

[blu94gt]

I'm guessing your front left is wearing faster on the inside? If you're pulling right from camber then it would be your front left has negative camber, or your front right has positive (or both, or a mix of incorrect toe settings, or a multitude of combinations lol).

If your alignment is free then definitely go have one done!

[mkernz22]

I think it might be a mix of them lol because my right one wore faster than my left one, but my left one still had decent wear.
It is strange though cause sometimes I let go of the wheel and the car will stay perfectly straight, but other times it either pulls a little or a good amount to the right haha

I'm just going to get an alignment done though, seems like the best solution as of right now.

Also, I feel like a complete dumba$$ because I typed wheel bearing when I actually meant ball joints lol
face-palm and a half haha