What's the life expectancy of a ball joint?

3201 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by icebiker, Mar 21, 2009

icebiker

Discussion Starter · Mar 20, 2009

With spring here, I'm going to finally get around to tackling that klunking front end noise. Intel from various posts seems to point to endlinks or spring seats. Before I order from IPD, however, I'm wondering whether it could be something else in the same area (such as a control arm bushing or ball joint). Though my R is 56K miles old, the endlinks and spring seats were replaced 30K ago. Neither were worn at the time, the dealer only replaced them as a result of having to replace the struts under warranty at 25K.

The ball joints and CA bushings are original, however. What's everyone's experience been with these? Do they typically last a while, or is 56K the beginning of the end for them?

Note: symptoms of the sound are: "knocking" on small hard edged bumps, especially noticeable on cold days.

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Oceans60R

· #2 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (icebiker)

They are designed to last 50,001 miles or four years and one day from in service date.

56K is a bit premature, I've heard the real design is to last 70-80K, but some last beyond that and even more.

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T5 for Life

· #3 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (icebiker)

The stock endlinks stink. They have on almost every Volvo I've owned. The IPD units are a big improvement and a worthwhile investment before replacing the balljoints. Or you could do the whole shabang and replace the endlinks and balljoints.

The other thing could be the spring seats, as you mentioned, but those are a bit more involved to replace.

Do the endlinks, see if it stops. If not, then maybe the balljoints. If not, then the spring seats. I've heard tell folks are using XC90 spring seats, or was it the XC70...can't recall which. I do believe IPD makes a part for that as well.

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JimLill

· #4 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (T5 for Life)

How often do you turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving. That can shorten the life of many front end parts.

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xman03

· #5 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (JimLill)

Quote, originally posted by JimLill »

How often do you turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving. That can shorten the life of many front end parts.

VERY good point, I never do for that same reason unless I really have to.

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Edogg218

· #6 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (xman03)

Ball joints are $40 each, and easy to change. I'd swap them now.

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pie_ya

· #7 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (icebiker)

I have the same clunking front-end noise and changed a few parts.

1. I first replaced the spring seats...that didn't get rid of the noise but they were worn out.
2. I then replaced the bearing plate...that didn't get rid of the noise either but they were really bad and needed to be replaced badly.
3. Finally I replaced the lower control arm bushings with the firmer option from Ipd and that as well did not fix the problem (and they looked fine but I did them anyway)

I also replaced the stock endlinks with Ipd's heavy duty endlinks about three years ago but I believe the end links need to be replaced again as I think they are causing the noise. And my car has about 64K miles and started making this noise about 6-8 months ago. At my latest dealer visit the tech mentioned the endlinks as the culprit when I asked him (since he test drove my car).

Definitely go for the endlinks first before trying the other parts. That is what I plan on doing next.

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Edogg218

· #8 · Mar 20, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (pie_ya)

Quote, originally posted by pie_ya »

I have the same clunking front-end noise and changed a few parts.

1. I first replaced the spring seats...that didn't get rid of the noise but they were worn out.
2. I then replaced the bearing plate...that didn't get rid of the noise either but they were really bad and needed to be replaced badly.
3. Finally I replaced the lower control arm bushings with the firmer option from Ipd and that as well did not fix the problem (and they looked fine but I did them anyway)

I also replaced the stock endlinks with Ipd's heavy duty endlinks about three years ago but I believe the end links need to be replaced again as I think they are causing the noise. And my car has about 64K miles and started making this noise about 6-8 months ago. At my latest dealer visit the tech mentioned the endlinks as the culprit when I asked him (since he test drove my car).

Definitely go for the endlinks first before trying the other parts. That is what I plan on doing next.

I did the same things as you, plus front struts, and it turned out to be the sway bar bushings. The bar was actually rattling inside the bushings because the poly had worn away. The only way I found it was with one of those kits with multiple wireless clip-on microphones.

So I could have fixed the whole thing for $12 shipped (two new front sway bar bushings). Instead I spent...a lot. Good times.

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pie_ya

· #9 · Mar 21, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (Edogg218)

I have the Evolve neutral sway bars...I know, you don't have to say it.

Anyway, I changed the bushings on the sway bars a year ago, I think, to the bushings from Ipd so I am not sure if that is the problem right now.

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icebiker

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 21, 2009

Re: What's the life expectancy of a ball joint? (JimLill)

Quote, originally posted by JimLill »

How often do you turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving. That can shorten the life of many front end parts.

Hey Jim good to hear from you. In answer to your question, never! (even when parking) I never dry-turn my cars...hate doing so so much that I pester my wife about it...it kills me to watch

Everyone, thanks for the tips...I'm going for the endlinks first.

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