Time to replace lower ball joints?

[DaemonForce]

A few weeks ago I noticed a noise coming from the driver side when going over an uneven surface(READ: bump). The car doesn't bounce like it used to when it still had bad struts and upper ball joints. Everything seems solid and I don't hear anything when moving until I hit a bump. To me it's just some random noise that I believe might be joint related. Could this be caused by lower ball joints?

I know it's probably going to be it since I replaced a CV axle on the passenger side a few days ago and noticed the lower ball joints are riveted on. 30 years sound about right to you guys?

[mudkicker715]

Jack it up and look (read; go wiggle wiggle on tire).

[DaemonForce]

Sexy photos time!



There's one good reason I call it rust bucket. :/

Noticed a loud snap when I first jacked it up today. Doesn't bother me too much.

Shook the wheel and there's no slack. No noise when it turns either so the wheel bearing seems okay. Everything under here looks clean so this half-shaft doesn't seem ready to give up the ghost. I'll replace it later anyway. A squeak in steering prompted me to grease the heck out of everything last month. Upper ball joints are well lubed with Mobil1 so that's out too. The grommets are in much better shape on this side so I'm not too worried about that. Bolts are rust tight.

I can assume that anything on this car with a zerk is perfectly fine but with the way I've been driving it 64mi every day of the week with severe maintenance neglect, I wouldn't be surprised if I have to replace something I've replaced before. More than anything it's reasonable to assume the only joints here that don't have lubrication zerks are the most likely to give noise. The only moving joints here that don't have them are the lower ball joints. Is there something else it could be or am I going the right direction here?

[DaemonForce]

Very funny. If site ads bug you that much I'll direct link. I don't want to know what people use to come to this forum. Could be anything and everything.

[jim]

Most of us use free Photobucket accounts.
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We recommend clicky pics.  This is a thumbnail picture that enlarges when clicked.
Photobucket has made a change in the way you copy the code.
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For a single clicky pic, hover over the picture.  This will open a drop down menu.  Click on the fourth window, img.
It will then say "copied".
Go to the thread where you want to put the picture and paste it in.
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In both instances you can select "Preview" to make sure it is what you want before you post it.

[mudkicker715]

If nothing is noticeably wrong. Keep looking. Next bet is strut rod

[jim]

Worn out caliper bushings will cause a hard rattle or bump sound that can be very difficult to trace.

[DaemonForce]

Next bet is strut rod

How effectively scary. I should probably wait until tomorrow when I can get to the stuff I need to get a better look at this. It looks like I need jack stands again. -_-

[mudkicker715]

Its no rocket science unless well, my stroker is a 1/4 rocket, but what is loose replace.

[DaemonForce]

In my case it's just a pain to resolve.

Three things worrying me about this:
1. I've replaced the upper ball joints a few years ago but never even noticed the lower ball joints until now.
2. The ball joints are factory. Meaning I'll have to clear the area and grind the riveted mess off of there.
3. The replacement for this is going to look different. In fact, there's a huge chance that the next design will cause problems of its own. At this point I suspect I'll need to move the CV axle just to tear the ball joint out. The classic Moog replacement will have a zerk and boot that are positioned in such a way that makes servicing next to impossible if not a big hassle. The design is also likely to cause problems when trying to remove/replace the wheel bearing assembly.

[mudkicker715]

You have major problems I never experienced or thought of. Been through it all and more.

[79eagle]

my 80 Eagle made the same noise and it WAS the lower ball joint.  Everything else was tight and you could not get any play in the wheel but they were bad (both sides, but the noisy one was the worst.)  An experienced AMC mechanic and replace them in a hurry.  You do have to get the half shaft our of there, but not the wheel bearing.
79Eagle