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Bad? (Pics)


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william97lx
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Mar 6, 2012, 4:35 PM

Post #1 of 17 (2234 views)
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1997 Accord Lx v6

Left lower ball joint.






Right lower ball joint



tie rod end both of them look like this.




nickwarner
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Mar 6, 2012, 5:19 PM

Post #2 of 17 (2215 views)
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A picture of those parts means absolutely nothing. What matters is if there is play in them. With the car jacked up grab at the top and bottom of the tire. Pry in and out feeling for slop. If there is some, you need an assistant to see if its the ball joints or the wheel bearing. If you grab at the front and rear of the tire and work it that way you will be looking for play in the tie rod ends.


william97lx
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Mar 6, 2012, 5:29 PM

Post #3 of 17 (2211 views)
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I do feel play left to right so its the tie rod end bad? And how do you tell if its the inner tie rod?.. Also i don't feel any play going up and down. but the ball joint looks beat and there a little crack mostly seen in pic1. is it okay to drive?


nickwarner
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Mar 6, 2012, 5:38 PM

Post #4 of 17 (2208 views)
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You can tell if its the inner by watching the outer when the tire is moved to see if the joint moves with it. If so, bad inner. If not, bad outer.If just a bit of play you could drive it to a shop to get fixed. If more than just a bit get a tow. Cheaper than a wreck. If you know someone with a truck or larger SUV you could even get a UHaul dolly for about $60 and haul it yourself.


Hammer Time
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Mar 6, 2012, 6:24 PM

Post #5 of 17 (2198 views)
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Quote
With the car jacked up grab at the top and bottom of the tire. Pry in and out feeling for slop


Let me add one thing. The car must be supported on the frame and the suspension has to be hanging free to check the ball joints.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



nickwarner
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Mar 6, 2012, 6:36 PM

Post #6 of 17 (2190 views)
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I knew I was leaving out an important detail. Thanks for pointing that out HT.


william97lx
Novice

Mar 6, 2012, 6:37 PM

Post #7 of 17 (2186 views)
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i don't understand


nickwarner
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Mar 6, 2012, 6:44 PM

Post #8 of 17 (2183 views)
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The car needs to be jacked up by the frame, not under the control arm. If you jack up under the control arm you put pressure on the ball joint and won't be able to feel any play present.


william97lx
Novice

Mar 6, 2012, 7:22 PM

Post #9 of 17 (2174 views)
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No I mean to test inner tie rod


nickwarner
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Mar 6, 2012, 8:07 PM

Post #10 of 17 (2169 views)
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The inner tie rod has a rubber boot covering it and you wson't be able to see the actual joint. So have a helper move the wheel while you watch the outer tie rod. When you see no deflection in the outer joint but play exists you know it must be the inner. Thats all that is left. For the mileage on your car I would replace both on both sides and get it aligned once instead of one part at a time and an alignment each time. If you choose against the alignment for cost reasons please realize it will cost you many times over in the tires you will go through. I had a worn out front suspension myself and chose to replace everything in the steering and suspension. Now I realize this may not be for everyone but I don't have time to deal with one part at a time. I drive a 95 Sububan 4x4. My tires were due to go as well. I did all the work except tires and alignment and it was $2000 well spent. This was a week ago. My truck has never rode this nice and the only tool the front end will need for quite some time is a grease gun. I have a lot more and a lot pricier parts in my front end than yours. But you may wish to ask yourself realistically how good you think your own work will be. You aren't even sure what you are looking at or how it should be tested. I mean this as no insult, thats why you came here for advice in the first place, right? On your car most times you can't get the ball joint seperately. If you could, it would require a ball joint press and adaptors that you don't have anyhow. If it was my car, I would change the whole thing out with new parts and do an alignment. If that is outside your skill level or means many shops offer a free suspension check and you can have an expert eye tell you what you need. If you let them go ahead and do it for you or try to do it yourself thats your choice. If you elect to do it yourself we can walk you through the procedure. Some tools will be involved, and if you don't own them you will need to purchase them or borrow them. You may find it cost-effective to let the pros do it for the cost of the tools involved.


william97lx
Novice

Mar 7, 2012, 5:22 AM

Post #11 of 17 (2152 views)
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2000 wtf. -_- .. I only got 500$ I only got a part time job. Is it more cheaper if I buy the part n have them install it? Tie rod I replaced them less then a year ago Unsure .. I'm going try checking it today


Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 7, 2012, 8:13 AM

Post #12 of 17 (2146 views)
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No - that price was Nick's for doing many parts. Chances are you don't need lots and maybe not anything but perhaps an alignment. Let some shop check the parts if you can't and get a quote.

Not to be hard but if you can't keep the car safe if one or more item is unsafe then figure something as I won't help with allowing UNSAFE vehicles on public roads!

T



nickwarner
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Mar 7, 2012, 2:20 PM

Post #13 of 17 (2136 views)
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Shops won't be agreeable to customer supplied parts if you expect any sort of guarantee on the work.


Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 8, 2012, 4:29 AM

Post #14 of 17 (2119 views)
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Nick - Kinda like bringing a steak into a restaurant and complaining bout it when cooked. A no go with either,

T



nickwarner
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Mar 8, 2012, 4:41 AM

Post #15 of 17 (2115 views)
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Exactly. Its quality control for us if we control the parts. Also if the part fails early we can simply call the vendor and have it warrantied out because the transaction is listed on the shop account. No searching for an invoice to show date of purchase.


Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 8, 2012, 9:24 AM

Post #16 of 17 (2106 views)
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You go guy! I'm long done with biz of any sort but anyone who brought their own parts was ok with me but not responsibility on me if it failed.

If in the trade you know where the best stuff is and not usually chain stores no names from me but watch out for so called bargains out there..............

T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 8, 2012, 10:37 AM

Post #17 of 17 (2100 views)
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Don't be surprised if the labor jumps up and any warranty disappears when you offer to supply your own parts



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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