pic of what happen to my ride today...
01-08-09, 11:06 PM
#16
Lexus Champion
first things i changed when i got my car..and im only at 90k..some people go 120k without this problem..lower ball joints usually come complete with the control arm..get it from sewell or carson..OEM is quality!
01-08-09, 11:09 PM
#17
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Wow....glad your OK.Yah....there's a whole history on this ball joint going bad...esp. if lowered....more stress onto the LBJ....thus, i think RCA can help alieve the stress a bit.
Thanks for sharing....just reminds all who are lowered to check your LBJ regularly...and even change it soon.
Pete
01-08-09, 11:51 PM
#22
........
I had the exact same thing happen to me in my old 98 gs400 with 104 on the odometer. There are, or were many warning signs. At least with my car. I just had no idea what was wrong.
There were a lot of clingy (metal on metal) sounds coming from the front suspension whenever I went over any rough surface. Those kept getting louder and louder. And the last warning sound before the balljoint snapped, was that the steering wheel would no longer go back to the center position when turned. I had to manually turn the steering wheel back. This lasted for a few days before it snapped. So if that happens to you. Immediately stop driving.
My 02 gs430 has 58k and no sounds or problems whatsoever.
There were a lot of clingy (metal on metal) sounds coming from the front suspension whenever I went over any rough surface. Those kept getting louder and louder. And the last warning sound before the balljoint snapped, was that the steering wheel would no longer go back to the center position when turned. I had to manually turn the steering wheel back. This lasted for a few days before it snapped. So if that happens to you. Immediately stop driving.
My 02 gs430 has 58k and no sounds or problems whatsoever.
01-09-09, 12:15 AM
#23
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damn.... that sucks. I've been pretty worried ever since i bought my GS because of reading about the ball joint problem. im at about 80k. now it got me thinking if i should replace it or not. I inspected the ball joint and it looks fine. Should i replace it just to play it safe or wait till about 90k?
01-09-09, 01:32 AM
#25
For those worried about their ball-joints, here is a very quick test to see if their ball-joints are about to collapse:
1. Jack up the car so one wheel is off the ground as if you were changing a puncture.
2. Put your hands @ 3'oc and 9'oc position on the tyre and shake the wheel. There should be zero movement
3. Put your hands @ 12'oc and 6'oc position on the tyre and shake the wheel. There should be zero movement.
4. Repeat for the other wheel.
There is a more detailed test to check the exact condition of the joint but this test will give you a basic indication of how bad they are.
1. Jack up the car so one wheel is off the ground as if you were changing a puncture.
2. Put your hands @ 3'oc and 9'oc position on the tyre and shake the wheel. There should be zero movement
3. Put your hands @ 12'oc and 6'oc position on the tyre and shake the wheel. There should be zero movement.
4. Repeat for the other wheel.
There is a more detailed test to check the exact condition of the joint but this test will give you a basic indication of how bad they are.
