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Broken ball joint caused more damage
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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 4:33 AM
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Broken ball joint caused more damage
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I have a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, and the lower passenger ball joint broke in half, and the car hit the ground hard. I replaced the ball joint, but now I have a screeching noise from that area of the car.
The noise is constant except when I hit a bump, then it stops.
I took the brake shield off thinking that may be rubbing up against brake disk, but that was not it. My friend said I may have ruined the strut/ shock .
Does anyone know what it could be?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 13, 2012, 6:34 AM
Post #2 of 16
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That simply is going to need total checking out for what got damaged, a splash shield if damaged replaced and whatever else got wrecked which could be quite extensive. No way I can guess on something like that,
T
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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 1:42 PM
Post #3 of 16
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I checked out the front end , and the upper ball joint on the side where the lower ball joint broke off is slanted at an angle. The other side is straight.
I think when the lower broke, and control arm smashed the ground , it bent the upper ball joint upward.
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nickwarner
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Jul 13, 2012, 1:51 PM
Post #4 of 16
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you bent the whole control arm, thats why you have the angle. Replace all your ball joints now along with that arm or you will be in a very dangerous and expensive car.
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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 1:55 PM
Post #5 of 16
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Can I replace the upper ball joint first, and see if that gets rid of the noise. Then replace the control arm too if needed.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 13, 2012, 2:05 PM
Post #6 of 16
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Re: Broken ball joint caused more damage
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Ball joints don't bend, control arms do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 2:12 PM
Post #7 of 16
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Should I get the upper control arm with ball joint included, or just replace the control arm?
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nickwarner
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Jul 13, 2012, 2:36 PM
Post #8 of 16
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your lower ball joint was so old and worn out it actually seperated while driving. The one above it and the ones on the other side are just as old. Even if you could get your old ball joint out and into a new control arm you'd destroy it doing it. Replace all 4 and the arm you bent or risk destruction
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 13, 2012, 3:29 PM
Post #9 of 16
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I'm worried about this sled...........
T
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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 4:29 PM
Post #10 of 16
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I bought 2 new ball joints , but I will see if I can straighten out the control arm.
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Discretesignals
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Jul 13, 2012, 5:20 PM
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I'd really like to be there to watch how you straighten out that stamped steel control arm.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 13, 2012, 5:22 PM)
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mercuryman
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Jul 13, 2012, 5:43 PM
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I'd really like to be there to watch how you straighten out that stamped steel control arm.
I went on Google, and many red neck mechanics have taken the control arm off their car, and heated it with a torch, and said it wasn't like new , but did work.
I decided to buy brand new with lower ball joint included to save me all the trouble, and with shipping, I was able to find it for $86, I got a Rock solid deal. I am happy now. I may have to get front end alignment now.
(This post was edited by mercuryman on Jul 13, 2012, 5:44 PM)
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Discretesignals
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Jul 13, 2012, 5:54 PM
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Unless your into metallurgy and understand the properties of different types of metals and what happens to them when they are heated, I recommend you buy a good used or new control arm.
The lower arm is probably tool steel and heating it up will probably make it brittle like glass. There is a reason that body shops replace bent suspension parts. I have never seen a body shop trying to straighten out bent suspension control arms.
edit: Your making a good decision replacing the arm.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 13, 2012, 5:58 PM)
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mercuryman
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Jul 14, 2012, 4:15 AM
Post #16 of 16
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Thanks for all the advice. After I repair this, I am getting something newer in a few months.
This Mercury has 250,000 miles, and just about every part has been replaced.
I am going to miss working on my cars, cause the next one will only be a couple years old, and the computer mechanics will do all the work.
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