Just had both front upper ball joints, both lower ball joints and idler arm replaced and alignment adjusted. First time I took it out I immediatley noticed the ride was rough. Can feel a vibration in the steering wheel - like a slight washboard effect - the higher the speed the more pronounced. And when I brake I really get the washboard effect. Before I call back about this problem I would like to have some idea of what went wrong with the repair? Would appreciate any info!

Welcome to AF.

Could you please tell us the make model and year of vehicle?

Although you have not mentioned this, I presume its a rear wheel drive car or truck given you have upper ball joints.

There are several items that can cause such a vibration, such as improperly adjusted or worn/damaged front wheel bearings or a badly worn front tire, or an imbalanced front tire.

This may have been a pre-existing condition, which you never noticed because of the worn and sloppy front end components. Now they are tight, the problem appears.

The alternative is the mechanic damaged something, or did not assemble something properly. I suggest to go back to the mechanic and discuss the issue with them. Avoid accusing them of doing something wrong but indicate to them you expect them to fix it for free. You want them to be frank and honest with you since it might not be their fault. But they should look for the problem.

If they want to charge you more money to fix it, feel free to let us know what they say before you go ahead with the extra work. They may or may not be justified in charging you extra.

It's a 01 Olds Bravada with 117k miles. The tires are less than a year old and no worn spots and brakes/alignment were done about 6 months ago. I did make an appt. to take it back in Mon. Anyways, thanks for your reply MagicRat and if any problems come up I will let you know.

Don't worry, it usually just means that your tires have worn down a little and have gotten out of balance and need balancing, usually just one tire, though you pretty much have to balance them in pairs, because it's impossible to tell which one is the culprit.
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If the car is properly aligned, the steering and suspension is in good shape, and the tires started out balanced, they should not become out of balance as they wear.

I'd suspect that you have either two problems (out of balance tires and warped brake rotors) or a single issue such as worn steering/suspension parts. Those are the only ways I think you'd have vibration at speed AND when braking. Either way, you need to get it checked out and repaired soon for your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of your fellow motorists/pedestrians/bikers.

-Rod

Thanks for your replies. I did take the car back in and they said maybe I was feeling the rusted rotars in the back?? It doesn't jive because when I apply the parking brake it is smooth as silk. And when I said what about the brake warning lights coming on they said I either had to live with it or buy a new sensor which is several hundred dollars - they had no explanation as to why it suddenly came on after their repair. I am not happy about this at all...

Thanks for your replies. I did take the car back in and they said maybe I was feeling the rusted rotars in the back?? It doesn't jive because when I apply the parking brake it is smooth as silk. And when I said what about the brake warning lights coming on they said I either had to live with it or buy a new sensor which is several hundred dollars - they had no explanation as to why it suddenly came on after their repair. I am not happy about this at all...
Did you feel the "washboard effect" of the brakes before the repair? Bad rear rotors can cause this problem as well, so in that the mechanic may be correct.
And no, bad rear rotors are not detectable when using the parking brake because that brake is applied when the vehicle is stopped.

I suggest take the truck to a different mechanic for a second opinion to see if the rear brakes and sensor are actually bad.
Also, avoid the big chain shops of brake and muffler repair places. They tend to oversell parts replacement instead of repair. Find a good independant local garage if possible.