Your suspension system is a godsend when riding those bumps and unexpected irregularities on the road. When it’s less than smooth sailing ahead, your ball joints let the wheels do their thing — without transferring any of that motion to the main cabin. Like any automotive parts, however, those suspension parts will run a little thin with time — whether they lubricate less, loosen up, or freeze and seize altogether. If you notice one or more of these four signs, it may be time to change your ball joints.

1. Uneven Wear Across Your Front Tyres

If your ball joint has come loose in the front suspension system, one of your two front tyres will sit askew to the other. Of course, the consequence here is that one tyre will wear out faster than the other. This may show on the tyre’s inner or outer edges or across the tyre’s surface as patches. If you notice rapid wear across both tyres, that’s another problem — possibly an issue with tyre pressure. If you notice wear isolated to the one tyre, though, that could be a sign of a worn ball joint.

2. Severe Vibrations in the Cabin

Ball joints can’t save you from all vibrations in the cabin, but if driving causes severe rattles or rumbles, that’s a problem. While the culprit may be other suspension parts — such as driveshafts, axles, or unbalanced tyres — a ball joint is the most likely to wear out during the daily drive. The good news is it will be relatively cheap and easy to replace.

3. A Loose Feel in the Steering Wheel

Not-so-fun fact: a worn-out ball joint makes for a loose point in the suspension system. This can offset the entire feel of your vehicle. If you notice your vehicle wandering about your lane without your input, tracking crookedly, or feeling incongruent with your steering efforts, that may be a sign of worn-out ball joints. If you notice bad tie-rod ends or inaccurate front-end alignment, these could also point to worn-out ball joints. In any case, the first step to diagnosing the problem is to check if the ball joints are sitting where they should be.

4. Rattling or Clunking Noises

If your vehicle’s audibly rattling or clunking, that’s a telltale sign that some suspension part has come loose. And if the rattling or clunking intensifies over bumps or other rocky variations in the road, you can be doubly sure that the suspension system is the problem area. If the ball joint is the cause, it’ll continue to loosen and wear down the longer you leave it. So, rather than gritting your teeth and bearing it, you should attend to that rattling and clunking by replacing your ball joint. This should bring a stop to those bad vibrations, eliminate clunking noises, and tighten up all loose ends.

Buy New Ball Joints With Machter

If any of these four signs sound familiar, your ball joints are likely on the way out. Luckily, there’s no need to buy a new car or give your suspension system a complete overhaul. Thanks to aftermarket car part suppliers like Machter, you can get your auto parts online, swap them out one by one, and continue chugging along. From ball joints for the suspension system to EGR vales for the engine — and everything in between — Machter has the goods to get your car running like a dream again. Are you due to get your hands on some quality automotive replacements? Browse Machter’s range of ball joints and restore security to your suspension system today.