How Much Does a Replacement Lower Ball Joint Cost?
The price of a ball joint replacement cost can vary from £60 to £150. On average, you can expect to pay around £90 to have this job carried out. The price can vary based on the make and model of your car and the parts recommended by the manufacturer.
Can I Replace a Lower Ball Joint Myself?
Replacing ball joints can be a job that varies a lot depending on the make and model of the car. In general, you will need to have some skills and knowledge to conduct this intermediate job on your own. They are not always easy to replace but if you are skilled in changing brake components and suspension parts you may be able to do this job yourself. Most of the time, you will need a ball joint press and a ball joint fork to remove the joint and separate the control arm from the steering knuckle. You will need tools to jack up the vehicle, remove the wheels, and move the brake callipers and rotors.
What Else Might Impact the Cost of Lower Ball Joint Replacement?
The cost of replacing a lower ball joint will usually vary based on the make and model of your car. Other factors such as the garage that you choose to do the work and your location can also have an impact on the price. Along with this, you may find that you need to pay more if there are any additional problems discovered during the ball joint replacement such as components that are damaged, defective, or faulty.
How Much Do Lower Ball Joint Replacement Parts Cost?
Parts for a lower ball joint replacement can vary based on the make and model of your car and what is recommended by your manufacturer. You can get a ball joint from Eurocarparts for an average price of £25.
How Much Does Labour Cost For Lower Ball Joint Replacement?
Overall, you can expect to pay an average of £90 for the cost of a lower ball joint replacement in the UK, based on the make and model of your car, the garage you use, and your location. This price will typically include the cost of both parts and labour. The cost of labour for this repair can vary a lot depending on the size of the garage you use, its location, local demand, and other factors.
How Long Does it Take to Repair a Lower Ball Joint?
A ball joint replacement will typically take around one hour, but it can take less or more time depending on several factors. Some of the main factors that might impact how long it takes to have a lower ball joint replaced include the make and model of your car, year of manufacture, and if any other issues are detected with the steering and suspension that will need to be repaired as part of the job.
Can I Drive if the Lower Ball Joint is Faulty or Broken?
It is not recommended that you drive with a faulty or broken ball joint since it can make your car unsafe. The ball joints are designed to keep the car’s tyres flat against the road as the suspension travels up and down. A failed or faulty ball joint could cause the wheels to move in different directions, which can damage your tyres and the suspension. If the ball joint completely breaks while driving, this frees up the wheel to move in any direction and it may turn outwards and drag the tyre until you apply the brakes.
What Else Might Be Wrong If There are no Faults With the Lower Ball Joint?
If your ball joints are in good condition, but you are still experiencing some problems with the steering and suspension of your car, there are several potential reasons for this. The steering and suspension is a complex system within the car with several components that might go wrong. Loose wheel bearings or steering knuckles, for example, can lead to excessive play while steering, or if your car is veering to one side or another, you may have uneven tyre pressure or misaligned wheels.
What Might Indicate the Lower Ball Joint is Faulty or Broken?
If you have a faulty or broken ball joint, you may notice some common signs. One of the most likely is clunking noises coming from the front suspension of the car. This is caused by the worn ball joints becoming loose in the socket, which causes them to rattle as the suspension moves up and down over the road. You may also notice excessive vibration coming from the front of your car, or uneven wear on your front tyres. Ball joints that are in poor condition are also likely to lead to wheel misalignment, which can cause the steering to veer to either side on its own.
What Happens When a Lower Ball Joint is Replaced?
Your mechanic will first raise your car on jacks and take off the necessary wheels. They will then use a ball joint tool to remove the worn ball joints by disconnecting them from the control arms and steering knuckle. Then, the ball joints will be replaced by new ones in the same place as the old ones. During the process, the mechanic will be checking other parts so that they can repair any other problems that they might find during the process. All the other parts will be reassembled. The car will then be test-driven to check that the steering and suspension are working correctly.
How Can I Repair a Lower Ball Joint?
You may want to tackle the job of repairing or replacing lower ball joints if you have some mechanic skills and are confident with suspension jobs or changing brake components. Since there are several parts that need to be removed before you can carry out this job, you will need a jack and ball joint tools such as a ball joint fork and ball joint press.
About Fixter
Fixter is revolutionising the car maintenance industry, one repair at a time. Fixter was founded to make car maintenance as easy as booking a taxi. Digital, transparent and stress-free, with world-class customer service. Since launching in Manchester in 2017, Fixter has expanded to more than 100 towns and cities across the UK and provided thousands of car owners with honest, convenient and affordable car repair services.