Ball joint questions

[DFrank]

I had some front end damage the other day and my steering wheel no needs to be held a little to the left to go straight. I went to an alimnment place that suspects some minor frame damage needs to be fixed before bothering to align. The tech also said my upper ball joints are just out of tolerance and need to be replaced with offfset ones to fix camber.



SHoud I have these replaced or wait till they get worse and then replace with a bigger offset?



truck is an 03 with 57K on the clock.



The camber reads minus . 3 and minus . 4. he said tolerance is up to -. 3. Seems to me like it is close enough and I should wait and replace them as they worsen. What are your thoughts?



TIA, Dave

 

[rbattelle]

I think you need to get the front end damage fixed first, then worry about the ball joints. Nobody likes a crooked frame.



-Ryan

 

[DFrank]

Truck went to a shop today to have the frame looked at and the body work done. I will be doing an alignment, but still pondering the need/ timing for new ball joints.



Thanks

 

[JayWm]

Are the ball joints bad, as in worn out? Or is he suggesting the offset ball joints to correct the negative camber issue?



If the ball joints are worn out, you need to replace them now. When ball joints break, um well, bad, bad things happen...



As to the frame damage, what did you hit and where on the truck did it hit. I doubt you could bend the frame on this truck without bending, damaging or otherwise seriously messing up something within the front suspension as well. You are more likely to bend a tie rod, ball joint, control arm, spindle, knuckle, etc on the front suspension before you bend the frame. The only way I could see you damaging the frame is if you hit something with the front of the truck that would apply serious force to the frame itself without transfering that to the suspension. And it likely would trigger the air bags. Did the alignment shop measure the wheelbase on each side, often referred to as set back? When they took alignment readings did they check SAI and included angles? All of these would give an indication that something is bent.



Good luck with your truck and hope you get it sorted out.



Jay

 

[DFrank]

The offset ball joints were suggested to fix nrgative camber which is just at the edgs of tolerance. He said the lower ones had a little play but di not need to to be raplaced at this point.



The hit was on the front right almost exactly where the bumper lines up to the frame mounts. The bracket that mounts the bumper to the frame is pretty wrinkled which shows at least some force was put directly to the frame member. The bumper was bent very slightly ino the tire. I put a strap through the fog light hole and tugged it away from the tire so I could leave the site. The bumper was not even flexing the tire in so I think I got away with no suspension damage