Ball Joints and Such?

[Coevopower]

Okay so latly I have been hearing this Thumping noise comming from the front end of the car...I dont know exactly what it is.. But I put the car up on a lift at school to see if I could find what it is and nothing. But the Lower Ball joints are realy lose... and it happens when I turn or hit a bump, not all the time, but quite often tho. So is anyone else having this problem?

Or do you guys know what the problem could be?

[WANTED]

Ball joints do make thumping sounds when they're on the verge of going south. I learned that the hard way after my talon was recovered from being stolen. I had one break on me sending one wheel in a completely different direction from the others. You can guess the aftermath of that. It was the ball joint on my tie rod making a thumping/rattling under the same conditions.

If the ball joint has play in a way it shouldn't, then you can reasonably infer that that's a problem and may want to consider having it replaced.

Otherwise, have you changed or messed with anything prior to the thumping noises? Are you on lowering springs with stock shocks? Is the thumping something you can "feel" as well as hear?

[mrich82]

Mine was doing something similar this past week... turned out that I had 3 loose lugnuts on the driver side front wheel. Not sure how why they loosened up. Hopefully you checked your nuts already (haha) but just in case you haven't.. check them first.

[WANTED]

I just thought of something else to check. Your brake calipers. They will also make a thumping noise if they are loose enough. If someone had removed them or whatever, and didn't torque the bolts enough, they will back themselves out. I've seen that happen as well.

[Warrtalon]

The first thought that came to mind was lowering springs on the stock Bilsteins. Do you have springs by chance? I know Jon asked the same thing.

[Coevopower]

I do not have lowering springs so its not the shock bottoming out. I have not checked my nuts ( not in the bad way) I will have to do that in the morning, I did mess with my calipers tho, when I did my brakes and my Lines and rotors, all that was replaced, I belive I tourqued them down tho to specs... And I can kinda feel the noise, Tonight It was happining from the rear as well, as the front, So I dont know what it was, But I need to find out soon tho.

The ball joints are not hard to move, you can easily move them with your hand, which it should not happen. they need to be hard to move.

[gbpkr]

I don't know if this would apply to the Evo IX, but I had my ball joints replaced under warranty within the last year because of the excessive wear.

[WANTED]

Yes you do. Any chance you can get it back on the lift today?
If you plan to do this by yourself again, the approach I would take is a top down, meaning start in either the front or back, checking from one side to the other, and work your way progressively to the other end o the car checking everything and physically trying to make things rattle using no other aid then your hands.
I'm guessing you're in some automotive repair program at school. Get your instructors opinion as well when you think you found the culprit. A second set of eyes or insight never hurt anyone.
Past that, there's no real diagnosis we can give you over the internet.

[Coevopower]

No I cant get it on a lift till wensday, buy I do have 6 ton Jack Stands and a good jack here at home, so i might be able to do it here. but I deffinetly need to figure out whats goin on tho.

[Coevopower]

Ohh and I am in a Tech School