Signs of failing Ball Joints

Creaking or clunking noise

As ball joints wear out, they’ll begin to have excess friction when in use. That will usually result in a creaking sound, like the mechanical version of a noisy bed spring. You’re most likely to hear this noise when turning your wheels, or driving over bumps or potholes, as that’s when the ball joints are in use. While creaking is the most common noise, you might hear a clunking sound coming from around the wheels. That’s also a sign of ball joints that don’t have much life left.

Worn tires

There are a lot of things that can cause excessive tire wear, and malfunctioning ball joints are one of them. If the ball joints aren’t doing their job, your car’s alignment will be thrown off, leading to quicker wear and tear.

Loose steering

While less common than the other symptoms, failing ball joints can also result in steering that is very loose, which can be rather disconcerting for a driver.