How to check a ball joint on a car without a lift in 10 minutes?

The latest model of AvtoVAZ

It is no secret to any motorist that our “ideal” roads, called roadways, are fraught with danger, primarily for the vehicle itself. Any imperfections in the asphalt surface can cause the ball joint to fail.

If the driver of the car notices extraneous, somewhat muffled metal tapping, which approximately comes from the front wheel, you should not turn a blind eye to such sounds, because they may indicate problems with the ball joint. To avoid more serious problems with the car, it is worth having the front suspension diagnosed at a service station. If the driver is able to diagnose the problem himself, it is worth inspecting the disturbing side (although both sides are better, since the car’s chassis “works” on both sides).

Article number and price for the original ball joint

The original ball joint of the Lada Priora car has article number 21082904185. The price for the product varies from 150 to 420 rubles. The quality of auto parts varies from batch to batch.

Ball joint for Priora

When purchasing an original product, special attention should be paid to the presence of lubricant under the boot. In some cases it is completely absent. Such a ball can last no more than a couple of thousand kilometers.

Layout of front suspension parts

1 — anti-roll bar; 2 — rubber-metal joint of the transverse arm; 3 — shock absorber strut; 4 - stretching; 5 — extension bracket; 6 — nut for fastening the extension to the bracket; 7 — ball support of the shock absorber strut; 8 — joint of the anti-roll bar; 9 — wishbone; 10 — bracket for securing the stabilizer bar.

Article number and cost of ball joint analogues

There is a constant debate among car owners about which ball joints are best to install. Some drivers believe that original parts are optimal in terms of price to reliability ratio. Other owners claim that the instability of the quality of their original balls completely eliminates the possibility of purchasing them. They advise buying analogues from third-party manufacturers, especially since the cost of non-original components is quite attractive. According to driver reviews, below is a list of pole brands that they recommend as an alternative to the original.

Table - Good analogues of the Lada Priora ball joint.

Check it seven times...

Unfortunately, Russian sellers are not always honest with their customers - there are cases of selling outright defects or fakes in original boxes. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to not only look at the beautiful packaging with a familiar logo, but also check how well the ball joints work.

Take them out of the box and try to spin them - they should rotate with noticeable force, but not lock up or slip in certain areas. If the seller claims that you will receive solid forged parts, pay attention to their body. It should not contain welds or a sloppily rolled flange - otherwise you are looking at cheap ball joints with low strength and short service life.

Diagnostics of the ball joint condition

Signs that you need to diagnose a ball joint malfunction are:

• the intersection of small holes and bumps is accompanied by distinct extraneous sounds from the front suspension;
• decrease in vehicle controllability when entering a turn;
• turning the steering wheel becomes more difficult and is accompanied by a creaking or grinding sound;
• it feels like the wheels are blurring on the asphalt, which is why the car doesn’t hold the road well;
• driving over uneven road surfaces is accompanied by poor vehicle stability;
• on the tires it is clearly noticeable that the rubber is being “eaten up”;
• cornering at speeds over 30 km/h is accompanied by a knocking sound coming from the wheel arches.

One way to monitor the condition of the ball joint is as follows:

• Jack up the front of the Priora.
• Hold the wheel firmly with your hands at the top and bottom points.
• Shake the wheel rim. If play is noticeable, the ball joint most likely needs to be replaced. It should be borne in mind that the cause of play can also be stabilizer struts or steering ends.

Checking the condition of the ball joint by shaking the wheel

Another control method can be used if there is an inspection hole, overpass or lift. It is necessary to gain access to the bottom of the Priora. Using a pry bar or other metal rod, you need to check the play in the ball. To do this, insert the assembly between the support and the lever, and then shake it. If the ball is faulty, an easily noticeable play will be observed, which indicates the need to replace it.

During diagnosis, it is important to visually inspect the condition of the anther. The performance of the ball directly depends on the lubrication. If there are cracks, tears or other mechanical damage to the cuff, moisture and abrasive debris get under it. If an unsatisfactory condition of the boot is detected, replacement of the support is mandatory.

If it is impossible to determine the malfunction of the ball or if you have doubts about its failure, it is recommended to contact a service station, where technicians using special equipment will check the condition of the support. For example, diagnostics on a vibration stand allows you to find a defective unit with 99% confidence.

The most common causes of failure of VAZ 2114 suspension elements

Before starting repair work, the workshop technicians recommend conducting a comprehensive diagnostic of the car in order to study the general condition, identify faults, and correctly calculate the number of spare parts and consumables. A preliminary inspection will help to accurately determine the location of the fault and identify the defective part.

The self-diagnosis process is not at all complicated; the presence of special equipment and tools is not at all necessary. Standard car key set, enough crab remover. It is extremely difficult to squeeze out a metal tip without a puller.

Step-by-step diagnostic process:

In good condition, there should be no sounds, creaks, or extraneous noises. Otherwise, the disks must be replaced with new ones.

The manufacturer in the operating instructions indicates a maximum free play of the ball pin of 0.8 mm. It is impossible to check the permitted space without special equipment.

In parallel with the diagnosis and replacement of suspension elements, we inspect the steering knuckle, hub, thrust bearing, and brake caliper. We evaluate the general conditions and make a decision to replace worn parts.

Since the work is carried out near the shock absorber and springs, we check for oil leaks and depressurization of the shock absorber cylinder. Finally, we diagnose the support bearing located in the engine compartment.

Required tools and materials for replacement

To replace ball joints on a Priora with your own hands, you will need the tools from the list below.

Table - Tools and materials required to replace the ball joint.

A set of tools needed to replace the ball joint

Replacing a ball joint on a Lada Priora

Replacing the ball joint on a Lada Priora car with your own hands is carried out according to the step-by-step algorithm presented below.

• Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.
• Jack up the vehicle on the side from which repair work is planned.
• Remove the wheel.

Jacked Priora with a removed wheel

• Loosen the two ball joint mounting bolts.

Location of fasteners

• Unscrew the ball stud nut.

Unscrewing the ball pin nut

• Press the support out of the lever. This operation can be performed without a puller, but having one will greatly simplify the procedure.

Pressing the ball out of the lever using a puller

• Unscrew the two support mounting bolts.
• Using a pry bar, remove the ball.

Dismantling process

Removed old ball

• Install the new support into the seat. It is recommended to fill the boot with grease first.

Installation of a new ball joint

• Reassemble everything in the reverse order of removal.
• Checking the toe and camber angles on a stand is not a mandatory procedure when replacing ball joints, but experienced car owners still recommend checking them.

How to identify the source of a knocking noise in a car

First, put the car on the parking brake. After this, you can already lift the side of the car that bothers its owner using a simple tool - a jack. This way the vehicle wheel will rotate freely.

Before carrying out the described manipulations, do not forget to place wheel chocks under the rear wheels. Experts strongly recommend never inspecting or performing work on a car that is secured solely with one jack! If you ignore this simple rule, irreparable disaster can happen.

Wheel check

Next, we take the wheel in the upper and lower parts with both hands, after which we swing it with maximum effort relative to the axis (vertical, of course). Please note that even if a knock is detected, replacing the ball joint is not yet necessary. For example, a similar sound on a Priora may appear due to wear on the wheel hub bearing. Precisely because, in order not to waste precious time and your honestly earned money on replacing an adequately functioning ball joint, it is worth making sure that the bearing is working properly.

Checking the bearing is easy. You need to find an assistant who will press and hold the brake pedal for some time. Your task will only be to repeat the check described above from the very beginning. If after all the manipulations the ominous knock does not disappear, it means that the support on the Priora has completed its allotted time. But if the knocking noise disappears, you will simply need to replace the wheel bearing.

You can finally dispel doubts about the malfunction of ball joints in a simple way. Place your hand on the lever and ball joints. Use your free hand to loosen the wheel. You will hear and feel the movement of suspension parts.

Additional recommendations for replacing the ball joint

When purchasing original ball joints, it is extremely important to control the amount of lubricant in them. Many car owners complain that the boot is completely empty. The quantity and quality of lubricant directly affects the service life of the unit and its performance characteristics.

Completely dry original ball joint

Filling the boot with lubricant

If an insufficient amount of lubricant or its absence is detected, it is necessary to fill the boot completely. Special means for CV joints are optimally suited for these purposes. In extreme cases, you can use Litol 24 or graphite lubricants. If there is a small amount of substance under the cuff, it is recommended to dispose of it first to prevent mixing.

Design

Structurally, the ball joint is not complicated. There is a housing that is either bolted to the suspension arms, or is part of the design of the arm itself. A finger is placed inside this body.

The part of the pin protruding beyond the body has a conical shape, and a thread is cut at the end to secure the pin in the hub.

Inside the body, the finger has a spherical or mushroom-shaped shape.

Between the body and the latter there are plastic bushings that act as sliding bearings.

A boot placed on the body protects the ball from dust getting inside.

Thanks to this design, the finger can not only rotate around an axis, but also change its angle relative to the body. This allows the wheel to turn.