Are your ball joints going bad? Here’s how to tell, and why you should care, from the experts at Van Meter Auto Repair in Mantua, NJ.

Your ball joints have an important job. Essentially, they’re the joint near the wheels where your suspension connects to the vehicle. Like any moving part on your vehicle, occasionally they fail. However, with ball joints, it’s important you get them fixed before they fail completely - if one breaks, you might find the bottom of your car on the ground, with the wheel folded into the fender.

Obviously, this is no good for a variety of reasons. So how do you know if yours are bad? There are two telltale signs of a failing ball joint. First, they often squeak and groan loudly, particularly while going over dips and bumps, such as turning into a parking lot. Second, bad ball joints rattle over rough terrain and bumps in the road, and you may even feel it in the steering wheel. If you jack the car up one wheel at a time and lift the wheel up and down, you can often actually feel that it’s loose. If you notice any issues with your ball joints possibly arising, don’t hesitate to have them replaced. The best case scenario if one breaks is stranded car, truck, or SUV on the side of the road...worst case, you could lose control of the vehicle and have a wreck.

No matter your repair or maintenance needs, we’ve got you covered. For the best automotive service shop in Mantua, NJ, call or stop by Van Meter Auto Repair today.