Do the Ball Joints in Your VW Need To Be Replaced? 4 Signs To Watch Out For
The suspension in your Volkswagen relies on ball joints to function. These are a common connection between the wheel and control arms. Thanks to ball joints, your wheels are able to pivot and move smoothly while remaining parallel to the ground. However, replacing worn ball joints is a common maintenance for higher-mileage vehicles. So, it's a good idea to know the signs of ball joints that are going bad. If you catch a worn ball joint before it fails completely, you may just need to replace it. But if a ball joint fails, it can cause the wheel to fall off your car or get folded underneath it! With this in mind, here are four of the most common symptoms of worn ball joints. Many of these can also be symptoms of other problems, but they should all be looked at immediately.
4. Uneven Front Tire Wear
Tires that don't wear down evenly are usually a sign of trouble, but did you know that taking a closer look at how the tire has worn down can give you insight into the cause of the problem? If you take a look at the tire tread and notice that either the inner or outer edges of just the front tires look more worn than the rest, worn ball joints are a potential culprit when only one edge of the tire is wearing down faster. If both edges are wearing out faster, your tires may not have enough air in them, and if the center is wearing out faster than the edges, the tires may be overinflated.
3. Excessive Vibration
Regardless of what the Beach Boys say, vibrations are rarely good when they're in your vehicle. If the excessive vibration you feel is coming from any of the vehicle's wheels, ball joints are a potential suspect. As ball joints wear down, the balls become looser in the sockets, which means that they'll begin to vibrate more. If you pay close enough attention, you may be able to tell whether the vibration comes from the right or left side of your car.
2. Steering Troubles
Occasionally, the vibration we mentioned before may even be felt through your steering wheel. But that's not the only steering-wheel-related sign of a bad ball joint. If a ball joint is loose, the associated wobbling could cause your vehicle to drift one way or the other, making it necessary for you to constantly correct the steering wheel. It could even cause the steering wheel to feel excessively sloppy or excessively stiff.
1. Clunking Noises from the Front of Your Vehicle
A clunking noise coming from the front of your Volkswagen may well be a ball joint telling you it needs to be replaced. This clinking may be from the ball rattling in the socket; it may start out relatively quiet, and might only show up when you drive over a pothole or a bump. But, as the joint gets more and more worn down, the clunking may become louder and louder. You may also notice the clunk or pop as you turn your wheel at slow speeds like when you're backing out of our parking spot. Be sure to get any mysterious noises looked at immediately.
