Ball joints are one of the most commonly serviced vehicle parts because they endure immense stresses and face a lot of abuse throughout their lifespan. This will put you on the market looking for replacement arts quite often, but choosing between several brands, finding the right type, fit, quality and other factors can make your decision process quite confusing and elaborate. So we have compiled a list of things you need to be aware of when buying replacements for your ball joints.
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The lifespan of a ball joint is a direct result of how well it is built and what materials went into making it. High-quality ball joints use superior materials like sintered and hardened metals to create a robust part that lasts a long time. Most manufacturers showcase their build quality or mention the materials used which can help you understand how well the components are built. The socket and stud must be made of high-grade and high-strength alloy steel. Polyurethane is a good material choice for boots.
The design and material of internal components like the bearing, springs, and other fittings are also important. Plastic is cheaper and so many manufacturers get away with using it and it is not always clear to the customer as these components lie inside the ball joint. But if you dig a little deeper you are sure to find the internal product materials. If replacing load-bearing ball joints, it is crucial to find replacements that meet or exceed OE standards. Many aftermarket brands provide OE quality standards at lowered costs. Refer to our top brand’s section to know more about the best manufacturers and their product features.
The suspension system design in every vehicle is varied which means the various components are most likely specific to every make and model. The same goes for ball joints as well and finding the right fit for your vehicle is essential for proper functionality. Luckily, PartsAvatar stores components specific to every make, model and year so you can be sure to find products that are designed specifically for your car. Just enter the make, model, and year of your vehicle to find relevant products.
As the name suggests, sealed ball joints come sealed from the factory and are pre-lubricated with lifetime grease. Whereas greaseable or serviceable ball joints need to be greased regularly to maintain lubrication within the joint. Most modern cars come with sealed ball joints as they require less maintenance and have sufficient service life. Greaseable ball joints can provide longer service life if serviced regularly but failing to do so can result in premature failure.
While steel is one of the sturdiest materials of choice for ball joints, they are also extremely susceptible to corrosion. To counter these many manufacturers apply high-resistance coatings that help keep moisture at bay and reduce corrosion as well as increase wear resistance of the components. Apart from water resistance, ball joints also need to deal with high temperatures that can wear internal parts rapidly and tear boots. The ball joints need to be able to deal with high temperatures along with moisture, debris, and other contaminants. Ball joints with special coatings and quality materials are a crucial requirement if the driving conditions are severe.
As mentioned earlier, the ball joints vary based on mounting, so you need to choose one that matches the type on your car. Unitized ball joint assemblies can only be replaced with control arms. Even some press-in and riveted ball joints cannot be replaced individually and require complete assembly of the control arm with ball joint. Also when buying you usually have a choice between going with kits or a single part. This can be decided based on the condition of the rest of your components. But make sure you are getting all necessary parts included for the ball joint replacement like the castle nut, cotter pin, grease fitting (if a serviceable ball joint), etc.
Since all ball joints have pretty much the same construction, the only difference you will notice in price is based on the material and design choice. Not all ball joints are created equally and so you can not expect the same performance from a more economical option than a more expensive one. However, that does not mean that the most expensive option is often the best. The trick is to find the sweet spot between price and quality. One way to dodge this bullet completely is to go with tried and trusted brands like Moog, Mevotech, Delphi, etc. This way you know the quality and performance of the component is going to be well accounted for by its price. Refer to the brand’s section to find the top manufacturers of suspension components.
Since ball joints are such elemental suspension components it is important to source OE grade products from renowned manufacturers. Some of the mentioned brands are not only capable of delivering OE standards but can even surpass the capabilities of OEM replacements providing enhanced strength, versatility, ease of installation, serviceability, etc. The listed features showcase the strengths of each brand product and are there to help you decide on the right replacements for your needs.
Recent innovations in Moog ball joints have ensured that they have the characteristics and performance that are expected from MOOG. Induction hardening has doubled stud strength and increased durability by a factor of five, which also improves safety. Durability is also enhanced thanks to the new hybrid core carbon fiber bearing which has better friction properties and the increase in radial deflection is reduced by 40% on average. Switching to a new synthetic grease makes the ball joint easier for you to fit as well as delivers optimum smoothness. The zinc flake coating on accessories not only looks better, but it also improves corrosion resistance, while the flanged nuts allow higher locking force which boosts safety. Both our press-in and bolted ball joints have new housing coatings which improve their appearance and resistance to corrosion.
Moog Upper Ball Joints Part Numbers: K, K, K, K, K, and more
Moog Lower Ball Joints Part Numbers: K, K, K, K, K, and more
Features:
Mevotech innovates every ball joint component. Their engineers focus on improving part life and ease of installation, employing punishing durability testing to validate every new design. Many of their products offer X-FACTOR DESIGN™ which provides maximum service life and durability to keep your vehicle performing longer. Their LABOR SAVERS™ technology makes your installations much faster, easier while protecting surrounding components, and includes handy Labor Savers accessories in the box.
Mevotech Upper Ball Joints Part Numbers: MS, MS, MK, TXK, MK, and more
Mevotech Lower Ball Joints Part Numbers: TXMS, MK, MS, TXKT, MK, and more
Features:
Delphi provides ball joints that have a high-strength and smooth operation, made with high-quality forgings and a surface finish machined to micron tolerances. Components are extremely tested to meet OE standards and specifications.
Link to Zegao Machinery
Delphi Upper Ball Joints Part Numbers: TC, TC, TC660, TC293, TC, and more
Delphi Lower Ball Joints Part Numbers: TC, TC, TC, TC, TC, and more
Features:
Transit Warehouse TOR or TOUGH. OPTIMAL. RELIABLE series of suspension and steering components stand true to their name. TOR offers a full range of heavy-duty steering and suspension car parts, built for optimal fit and extended service life. Each component is tested throughout the manufacturing process to ensure exceptional performance and reliability.
Transit Warehouse Upper Ball Joints Part Numbers: TOR-K, TOR-KT, TOR-K, TOR-K, TOR-K, and more
Transit Warehouse Lower Ball Joints Part Numbers: TOR-K, TOR-K, TOR-K, TOR-K, TOR-K, and more
Features:
Ball joints are the critical component of the front suspension that connect various links and allow them to move. Ball joints consist of a ball and socket similar to the hip joint of the human body. Ball joints of your front suspension provide pivoting movement between the steering knuckles and control arms to provide a safe, smooth ride and allow you to precisely control your vehicle.
Ball joints consist of a metal housing and a stud that can swing and rotate within the housing. Bearings inside the housing are placed between the ball stud and housing to help reduce wear and friction. The socket is filled with grease to provide lubrication, keep debris and water out of the socket, and maintain noise free operation. A rubber boot, located at the opening of the joint, keeps debris out and grease in. Lastly, the assembly is closed with a method such as the MOOG® pressed-in cover plate.
Many original equipment ball joints are designed as sealed units. If the protective boot fails, water and road debris will quickly cause wear and ball joint failure. Some aftermarket ball joints use an improved greaseable design that allows lubrication to flush out contaminants to extend the life of the joints.
In your vehicle, you’ll find two different types of ball joints – upper ball joints and lower ball joints. While each of these ball joints serve different functions but both work together to keep steering reliable and responsive.
Designed to maintain alignment and absorb radial loads, such as turning forces, upper ball joints enable proper rotation of steering knuckle. Upper ball joints use a follower design.
Acting as a pivot point for the steering system, lower ball joints can either be load-carrying or follower types depending on the suspension design. Lower ball joints use a variety of designs: compression loaded, tension loaded and follower.
In a short long arm (SLA) suspension system, compression- and tension-loaded ball joints are load carrying ball joints that support the vehicle’s weight. These ball joints typically wear faster due to the additional stress on the socket. In MacPherson strut suspension systems, the lower ball joint is a follower design. Although they do not support the weight of the vehicle, they receive loading during cornering and braking.
When you need to replace a ball joint, MOOG has a ball joint for the repair. MOOG ball joints include technologies to increase strength and durability, extend service life and improve ease of installation. They restore like-new steering with application-specific features such as patented pressed-in cover plate and integral dust boot, instilling confidence with each install.
Learn more about premium steering and suspension parts, find your car part, or find where to buy your auto part today.
The content in this article is for informational purposes only. You should consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have questions relating to any of the topics covered herein. Tenneco will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.
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