Ball joints, tie rod ends and control arms are the pivoting joints that let your wheels steer and move with the road while staying attached to the car. When they wear you get play, noise and rapid tire wear, and in the worst case a joint separates. AutoTech Clinic inspects and replaces them at our Dearborn shop.
These parts wear out faster in Michigan than almost anywhere else. Salt attacks the rubber boots, water gets into the joint, and the grease washes out. Once that happens the joint is on borrowed time.
- How Long
- From about 1 to 2 hours per joint, plus an alignment.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Ball Joints, Tie Rods and Control Arms
- A clunk from a front corner over bumps
- Play in the steering before the wheels respond
- The inside or outside edge of a front tire wearing rapidly
- A creaking or groaning noise at low speed turns
- The steering wheel shimmies at certain speeds
- A torn or missing rubber boot on a joint, visible from under the car
What We Do
- 01
Load Each Joint Separately
We lift the car and apply load to each ball joint and tie rod end individually, checking for movement against the manufacturer tolerance.
- 02
Inspect the Boots
A torn boot means the joint has lost its grease and taken on salt water. Even without play yet, that joint has a short remaining life and we will tell you so.
- 03
Check the Control Arm Bushings
Cracked or separated bushings cause clunks and alignment drift, and on many vehicles the bushing is only available as part of the complete arm.
- 04
Replace With Quality Parts
We use parts that meet the original specification, because a cheap joint on a Michigan vehicle is a repeat visit.
- 05
Align and Road Test
Every one of these parts affects alignment, so we align afterward and road test to confirm the noise and the play are gone.
Why Torn Boots Matter So Much Here
Every one of these joints has a rubber boot holding grease in and keeping water out. On a salted Michigan road the brine spray is constant for four months of the year, and once a boot splits the grease washes out within weeks.
From that point the joint is running on metal against metal with salt water in it. We check boots on every alignment and oil change, because catching a split boot early gives you the chance to plan the repair instead of discovering it as a failure.
How These Parts Eat Tires
A worn tie rod end lets the wheel toe in and out as you drive, so the tire scrubs sideways every mile. That produces a feathered edge on the tread that you can feel by running your hand across it, and it can ruin a tire in a few thousand miles.
Because the car may still drive acceptably, people often fit new tires first and destroy those too. If your tires are wearing unevenly, have the joints checked before you buy rubber.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Which joints are worn and how many
- Whether a ball joint presses into the arm or comes as a complete arm assembly
- Rust seizing parts together, which adds significant time on older vehicles
- Press work needed for pressed in joints and bushings
- The alignment that follows the repair
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.