Suspension Ball Joints: Prevent Damages to Your Car

Suspension ball joint refers to a joint used in the suspension of a wheel. The ball joint serves as the pivot point for turning a wheel on its axis. It acts as a counter balance by counteracting the force developed by the turning motion of the wheel. The force developed is dependent upon the torque of the turning axle and the angle of rotation. In this case, both rolling forces are balanced by the joint acting as a pivot point.

Suspension ball joints may be either fixed or removable. In fixed ball joint, it is mounted in an existing hinge where the suspension member moves in to position relative to the pivot point. On the other hand, the removable suspension ball joint allows the spring to be extended and the distance between two points is changed to suit the weight distribution and angle of pull of the vehicle.

Typically, suspension ball joints are fixed to a shaft that has a pin that attaches it to a mounting surface. In addition to a fixed joint, it may have a removable knob that connects to a fixed base. The knob has a locking mechanism that prevents the rotation of the shaft on its axis. On the other hand, a track may be fixed on a shaft to which the wheels are mounted and the suspension system pulls the wheels to this track.

In some trucks, suspension ball joints act as control arms. Control arms are fitted to the front end of the vehicle's cab and are fitted around the axle and/or drive train to help in steering the vehicle. The cab of a pickup is generally wider than the wheelbase of the truck. Therefore, a number of suspension arms are fitted on each wheel to help the driver to steer the vehicle. The wheels are usually fitted with radial tires, which are very durable, but they are also usually fitted with a radius strainer on the edge of the tire to help in handling.

Suspension arms are normally made out of cast iron or steel. Cast iron is preferred as it is extremely durable and does not need a lot of maintenance. Steel however is prone to rusting. Both materials are however available in a variety of colors to match the overall color of the vehicle.

A suspension joint is normally made out of steel because it is bendable and it can absorb a lot of lateral energy. Lateral energy is caused by the bumps, jumps and potholes that your vehicle gets on a daily basis. As these bumps accumulate over time, the wear plate on the ball joint starts to erode. If the wear plate were to be made out of cast iron, the joint would be quite heavy and this would cause it to corrode quickly. This could in turn lead to high wear and tear. However, if the joint were made out of steel, the wear plate would simply get stretched and the entire ball would become weaker due to corrosion of the steel in the joint.

In addition to rusting, excess wear and tear can also be caused by an excessive movement of the suspension when the car is hit from behind. As the balls of the suspension move, the tyres get deformed and the wear plate is deformed too. If you have a light car, the chances of the ball joints being worn out are very slim. But if you have an old car with a big engine, you would find that the ball joints wear faster. So to keep your car from getting damaged, it is important that you make sure you put in place good maintenance routines like changing the oil regularly, ensuring that the tyres are always filled with the right amount of air and providing good driving conditions.

The suspension system is probably one of the most important and most overlooked components of your vehicle. This is because when your car begins to suffer from various tyre problems, you can rest assure that the ball joints will be at the core of all the problems. They are, thus, important for your car as well as your peace of mind. So make sure you equip yourself with the knowledge of these important components of your car. With this knowledge, you can surely go head and ensure that your car lasts for many more years.