Does Your BMW’s Ball Joint Need Repair?

Three signs ‌your ball joint needs a checkup

Your BMW is an amazing vehicle built with the innovations and technology drivers have come to expect from the brand. However, regardless of your BMW’s exceptional performance, maintenance is still necessary to prevent known issues like ball joint failures.

What is a Ball Joint?

Whether your BMW has two or four ball joints, these crucial parts of your suspension are located on each side with your front wheels and connect the steering knuckles to the control arms. Ball joints move as you turn your steering wheel, so your front wheels go in the intended direction. When they work correctly and are well-lubricated, they make steering your vehicle a smooth and uneventful process.

Causes of Ball Joint Failure

Several conditions can cause ball joint failure:

Driving Environment: excessive moisture, like rain and high humidity can cause the steel part of the ball joint to break down, which can lead to cracks or complete breaks. Also, higher temperatures can dry out the lubrication used with the ball joints and increase unwanted debris entry into the joint.

Normal Wear & Tear: no matter what vehicle you drive, normal wear and tear can adversely affect your systems, including your car’s ball joint. Long-term driving and rougher road conditions can compromise the ball joint due to deterioration and dissipation of lubrication.

Seal Issues: the tight seals around the ball joints not only ensure the parts stay together, but that debris does not enter. So when they get dried out, this can cause issues with the ball joint. This is most common with unchecked amounts of oil and dirt on the seal.

3 Signs Your Ball Joint May Be Failing

Weird Noise: are you hearing a loud clunky or screeching noise when you turn or go over speed bumps? That can be an indication of worn or loose ball joints. This noise will grow in volume until it’s fixed. Accompanied with heavy vibrations, this can point to a much-needed replacement.

Drifting…Not the Cool Kind: if your vehicle drifts when you drive down a straight stretch of road, your ball joints may be compromised. This issue needs to be addressed immediately to prevent an accident.

Steering Issues: has it been more difficult to steer your vehicle, especially for turns? Since your ball joints directly impact your steering column and steering wheel, this is a big sign that something could be wrong.

Your One-Stop BMW Shop

Are you having any of these issues? The experienced technicians at Ashburn European can diagnose the issue and repair or replace your ball joints. Call our office at (703) 406-4000 or stop by our shop to reserve our next available auto repair appointment today! A locally trusted import vehicle repair shop, we service the Sterling, VA, area south of D.C.