Re: [DML] Ball joint failure

["Tom" <tomciodmc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

Same exact thing has happened to me in 6149 last sunday. I was driving a 
highway speeds and then right after I slowed down and got onto a surface 
street the lower ball joint on the passenger side has failed on me. The two 
parts of the joint came apart. At this moment I was going very slowly... 
first gear. Do our cars know just when to fail? The only damage on my car 
was done by the lower control arm scraping the sh#$^% of my newly powder 
coated rims.... auch. No damage to tire.
The reason for this was that the ball joint was completly dry inside - not 
even a trace of grease. The ball joint was about two years old, with about 
5k miles on it. It was NOT from one of the vendors.... I got it locally 
because I didn't want to wait for the parts.
There was some indication of this coming. One day before it happened the 
steering started to get really stiff. It was progressively harder and harder 
to turn the wheel. I wanted to inspect the steering when I get home... not 
on sunday at my girlfriends. I didn't make it home :)
I agree CHECK YOUR BALL JOINTS - the question is HOW? The one that failed 
looked perfectly normal.... until it came apart.
BTW, there was no way to lube the joint.

Tom Niemczewski
tomciodmc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx -> www.deloreana.com
VIN 6149 (in Poland!)
Save the dream so you can live the dream...


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "stainlessilusion" <5n-@xxxxxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 8:55 PM
Subject: [DML] Ball joint failure


> Traveling on the highway at speeds of 80+, and the passenger side
> lower ball joint failed me right as I was pulling away from the stop
> sign on the off ramp (swheeeeww). Lower arm hit and dragged on the
> ground and the wheel went forward into the fender-cutting the tire 




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