ball joint keeps coming loose?

[doberman_52]

I have a 90 cen and i have drifted and been pretty hard on it, i just replaced another halfshaft (4th one) and when i took it in for the allignment, i had the guy inspect my suspension and drivtrain etc. because i had a noise, he said i had a loose ball joint, he tightend it up and stuff about 2 or 3 weeks ago, i havent drifted or anything with it since but i have taken a few paved corners fast and have spun the tires a lot, i have the noise in my front end again, could it possibly be the ball joint again? or what else could it be, i hear it when i am turning, any suggestions, thanx

[corning_d3]

Ball joints don't usually loosen. The nut is held in place by a cotter pin. The joint itself cannot be tightened, so it's time for a new one. I recommend that you put a higher quality/priced joint in it this time..

[Scrapper]

i agree that should not come loose because of cotter key in nut....have u checked your half shaft or cv joints is another name 4 it..or have you checked your stablelizer links and bushings??

[doberman_52]

i just replaced the whole halfshaft on both sides twice on each side in the last 10 months , so i know that thoses are fine, corey checked out every thing up front when he did the allignment and tightened up the ball joint, but i hear the noise again, im not sure how it is got loose in the first place, but its gettin annoying, it was the other ball joint that i replaced last june not this one, the noise starte when i was going over some rough terain (mud bogin type stuff), ill check out the bushings and stabilizers tonight or tomorow, im not feelin to well today, but i might later tonite, how can i tell if it is the ball jount or bushings and such, not real fimmiliar with that stuff yet, more with the motors and interior aspects, thanx

[corning_d3]

How did he tighten the ball joint? Was the nut loose?

[doberman_52]

i dont know for sure, he just said it was loose and that he had tightened it,i think it was the part on the control arm not the part the the rotors and tire mount to. but i dont know. it should have a a cotter pin on top because it is the old style but not sure about the bottom, the other side (not loose) doesnt have a cotter pin on top at all

[Scrapper]

the 1 that don't have cotter pin in it is probably O. E. like a lock nut...but another thing you can check is making sure the rotor backing plate not hitting the rotor...GOOD LUCK....


scrapper....

[doberman_52]

it's not the rotor deal thing, i made sure when i bent it puting in the new halfsaft that i bent it back, the one with out the cotter pin isnt making the noise though its on the other side, i might check out the bushings and stuff now that i am feelin better to day

[corning_d3]

Your talking about the lower control arm bushings? They can cause noise and looser than normal steering. I do a lot of high speed cornering and I just had to replace mine a few months ago..

[doberman_52]

i don't really do any high speed cornering exceplt the last week or two and thats been under 40mph whil spining the tires, i used to go to the park by here and drift a bit but havent since ive heard the noise, this i my every day deiver too, i will get a 240sx when iturn 18 to mo for drifting, il havent got a chance to check those yet but i should tonite, im not doing what i thought i was gooing to so i may check them tonite