11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHCreaky Balljoints - woof woof
Reported or suspected cause
bj
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
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Reported cause · Original poster
Emptied the syringe, (some will escape) and hey presto the creaking has stopped for now, confirming that it was the bj to blame.
Leading evidence: 'bj' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'bj' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace lower control arm' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
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Reported cause · Original poster
I'm not saying this is a fix and I was pretty sure it was the bj at fault so didn't mind injecting through the rubber to see.
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had the lower control arm replaced on my GT3, creaks aside, the dramatic change you get from replacing it is amazing.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
incidentally, when you replaced the wishbones, what position were they in when you torqued them...
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
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Suspected cause · Original poster
So, I had an idea to see if I could be sure that it was the balljoint, I got hold of a syringe and needle from a inkjet printer refill kit and used the dremel to sharpen the tip to a sharp hypodermic type point.
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Suggestion · Original poster
After looking at all the previous threads on this I decided to change the lower wishbones, but was concerned that if it turned out to still creak it would be £400 spent earlier than necessary.
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Suggestion · Original poster
So, I had an idea to see if I could be sure that it was the balljoint, I got hold of a syringe and needle from a inkjet printer refill kit and used the dremel to sharpen the tip to a sharp hypodermic type point.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause · Original poster
So, I had an idea to see if I could be sure that it was the balljoint, I got hold of a syringe and needle from a inkjet printer refill kit and used the dremel to sharpen the tip to a sharp hypodermic type point.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T120458Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi all, just wanted to share something that could help others save some time diagnosing creaky suspension problems. After looking at all the previous threads on this I decided to change the lower wishbones, but was concerned that if it turned out to still creak it would be £400 spent earlier than necessary. So, I had an idea to see if I could be sure that it was the balljoint, I got hold of a syringe and needle from a inkjet printer refill kit and used the dremel to sharpen the tip to a sharp hypodermic type point. I then sprayed some autolube into a cup and sucked it up with the syringe, spurted out the bubbles, jacked up the car, moved the wheel to it's extreme and inserted the needle into the top of the balljoint rubber. Emptied the syringe, (some will escape) and hey presto the creaking has stopped for now, confirming that it was the bj to blame. I'm not saying this is a fix and I was pretty sure it was the bj at fault so didn't mind injecting through the rubber to see. The hole made self seals so shouldn't let dirt in and i may use some sort of sealant to guarantee this. It may of course tear in time, but i doubt it and i'm quite confident that this could actually be quite long lasting, and repeatable if necessary. 8)
never bodge a sports car.
seriously, replacing worn joint material, which is obviously metal and a teflon or similar surface with grease? that way you wont hear when its really worn, you'll just feel it as the seat belt rips your shoulder off when you grind to a halt when it breaks.
Trust me, it hurts, even at 60.
if its an interim, its annoying me, i will fix it next week fine, if not.... well... your call.
incidentally, when you replaced the wishbones, what position were they in when you torqued them... was the car back on its wheels?? ie, normal position?
Mine was squeaking like buggery and I took it to a specialist who diagnosed the problem but said that he could squirt some WD40 into the balljoint in the meantime which kept the squeak at bay until the car was booked in for the work (about a week later). Since the work was done, the car feels different - especially over rough ground and the squeak is gone for ever. I didn't even realise that there was a problem with the way the steering felt until it was fixed!! It was purely the squeak that was driving me crazy.
I had the lower control arm replaced on my GT3, creaks aside, the dramatic change you get from replacing it is amazing.
If you diagnose a faulty/split balljoint don't spray it with WD40/GT85 (unless you're diagnosing it) get it sorted!
You know what, i think i went into this with eyes wide shut. I was doing it in the first place to diagnose it before spending out on new wishbones. As it's turned out, it IS the wishbones at fault and i got carried away thinking i've found a new cure all forever. In retrospect it is obviously not a fix and I WILL be replacing the wishbones shortly. I Am glad the bloody creak has gone cos it's been driving me nuts for a month. So to sum up.... it's confirmed the creak was the bj's and i will now be replacing the wishbones (and torquing under normal load).
:wink:
I wonder if someone here can help me with a diagnosis.
I get creaking from the front somewhere, when steering, which is only audible at low speed.
However, it mostly happens when the car has been driven for at least a few miles, parked for maybe an hour and started again. It has once happened when the car was started from cold, after diving for 3 miles or so.
I took it to a indy after driving round the block a few times, but that wasn't enogh to trigger the creak, when I restarted. The indy (RGA in Vauxhall) said it was probably ball joints, but couldn't be sure til he'd heard it himself.
Is warm starting a known trigger? Or does it suggest that it's some other problem?
- Steve
Hi
We can supply exchange track control arms with new bushes and balljoint for £120 + VAT from stock. They are the most common suspension part we fit and 99 times out of 100 are the cause of the creaks. We have also had the top suspension mounts creak. Details of the TCA's are on our website
www.hartech.org
Grant
