balljoints (03 m45)...

[kamezzle13]

I tried the forum search, and the google search and nothing came up for balljoints on a 03/04 m45, so i'm hoping that means that they aren't a typical replacement item... but enough with the wishful thinking...

I'm about to do struts on the front of my car, by the time i actually have time to install them, the car will probably have 100k miles on it. Is it typical for the ball joints to go need replacing at this time? I have a small 'clunk' when i hit the brakes and accelerate from stop lights. It seems to me that its either the ball joints or motor mounts. Granted, this is my first infiniti, but on my other vehicles, this usually signified time to get new ball joints.

I couldn't find ball joints for sale on the infinitiparts website (where i planned on ordering my struts/shocks), does this mean im looking at taking it to an infiniti dealership??

I'm hoping its the motor mounts (have a warranty), but i figured with 100k on the clock, i might as well do the balljoints while i was down there, before everything gets put back together and realigned.

edit - i just found the balljoints, but they only come with lower control arms? please dont tell me i have to replace the whole lower control arm to do the balljoints, that would just be ridiculous. I've had rivetted in, non greasable ball joints on a previous vehicle, and even though they went out every 50k bc they werent greasable, at least once i drilled/grinded down the rivets the first time, all the PITA work was done...

[szh]

I tried the forum search, and the google search and nothing came up for balljoints on a 03/04 m45, so i'm hoping that means that they aren't a typical replacement item... but enough with the wishful thinking...

I'm about to do struts on the front of my car, by the time i actually have time to install them, the car will probably have 100k miles on it. Is it typical for the ball joints to go need replacing at this time? I have a small 'clunk' when i hit the brakes and accelerate from stop lights. It seems to me that its either the ball joints or motor mounts. Granted, this is my first infiniti, but on my other vehicles, this usually signified time to get new ball joints.

I couldn't find ball joints for sale on the infinitiparts website (where i planned on ordering my struts/shocks), does this mean im looking at taking it to an infiniti dealership??

I'm hoping its the motor mounts (have a warranty), but i figured with 100k on the clock, i might as well do the balljoints while i was down there, before everything gets put back together and realigned.

edit - i just found the balljoints, but they only come with lower control arms? please dont tell me i have to replace the whole lower control arm to do the balljoints, that would just be ridiculous. I've had rivetted in, non greasable ball joints on a previous vehicle, and even though they went out every 50k bc they werent greasable, at least once i drilled/grinded down the rivets the first time, all the PITA work was done...

Hmmm ... I did not think that ball joints would go out that soon, but I don't know much about this anyway. I will see if I can get some info for you ...

Z

[Y34V8]

I bought new tires about two months ago and i was told by the technician that the M needed new lower ball joints. I still haven't had time to replace the ball joints but i noticed that the old tires were worn from the inside; the wires were already visible.

I also thought it was too early to replace the ball joints since my car only has 60k. So i decided to check for my self and sure there was excessive movement from the two lower ball joints. on top of that, the two new front tires were already bald from the inside and i have only driven about 2000 miles.

You could try checking for unusual tire wear or excessive movement on the ball joints. i have also noticed that the steering is a little harder and its in need of a wheel alignment.

I called the infiniti dealership to see if they sold the lower ball joints but like you said we have to purchase the whole control arm. I was quoted 248 for each control arm and about 4 hours of labor.

i just placed the order for the two control arms and will be doing the labor my self. I'll post a writeup when i get the parts.

[UpStar]

If you dont mind me asking.....how many do you guys have on your Y34/2003-2004M with bad ball joints?

[saeedakobiakov]

mine , i think are fine @95k.but balljoints wear and tear items. it will depends on the roads.i am sure car from n.y.c. will need them sooner then any other city.

[saeedakobiakov]

wow, thats f--ed up you have to buy $20 part for $250.i cant believe it. it's i joke.

[mtsbasetwo]

I,M not Sure about the M but on most autos you can check your lower balljoints by slightly lifting the wheels off the ground, grabbing your tire at the six o'clock position and pulling out towards you and either looking for movement in and out or in some cases you will hear and feel the play (slop) of the tire.

[loystock]

Discounted price from IoS for the Y34 lower control arm, including the ball joint. is $186.54 each.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

[kamezzle13]

I,M not Sure about the M but on most autos you can check your lower balljoints by slightly lifting the wheels off the ground, grabbing your tire at the six o'clock position and pulling out towards you and either looking for movement in and out or in some cases you will hear and feel the play (slop) of the tire.

im all too familar with that, i had a truck that ate balljoints like there was no tomorrow. I havent gotten a chance to do it on my car, but I will when i put it on the lift and take a closer look.

Im fairly certain its my balljoints, because like Y34V8's case, my alignment has gone to complete crap and the inside of my tires are getting chewed up rather quickly. I havent gotten my car aligned in prolly 30k miles, but here suddenly it has gotten incredibly worse in a short amount of time.

and thanks for the link loystock, i guess i looked at the list price and freaked out, the discounted price isnt too bad :/

im just glad when i have everything complete. I bought the m45 used, so i never got to enjoy it when its suspension was at it peak. I was ecstatic with the way it handled/road when i picked it up, i cant wait to see what it felt like when the car was younger!

I'm already afraid to ask, but is there any other parts that anyone recommend while im down there? The balljoints look simple to replace, the struts will be a bigger PITA, but i might as well take care of any other smaller items while im at it. I plan on doing brakes while im at it, already got them ordered. a few more dollars spent to make my m last another 50k doesn't make me too mad.

[SteveTheTech]

Ball Joints are pretty uncommon.....however a good pothole can destroy one instantly.

A clunk from the front end could be coming from something as simple as dry brake pads or something like a loose strut top or any number of more complex things. Isolating this type of noise can drive even seasoned technicians insane. Check the stabilizer links too the wear out sometimes over time.

To check the lower balljoints you want to unload the joint. This applies to all types of vehicles, in the case of the strut-kingpin style you will want to jack it up from the frame until the wheel comes off the ground grab the tire at 3-4 and 7-8 and rock back and forth. The hand position is not typical for checking ball joints but since there is no upper ball joint the ball joint will not move in and out but it moves side to side.

Camber angles on the M are known to chew up tires and the size of the wheel doesn't help. Have you been rotating them accordingly? What type of tires are/were you running? I see allot of M owners neglect the rears, which tend to actually cause a fair amount of wear on tires if the camber is allowed to go too negative. Problem with that is suspension replacement is expensive and inferior/used parts are just as much as a gamble as not replacing them. As any one who works with collision repairs can tell you suspension work is sometimes a gamble and only several alignments later will you find the culprit. However I think since you have something even you are looking at sagging springs. Measure your ride height before anything.

[infinitedrift]

Im guessing lowering the suspension does not help the situation, correct.

[kamezzle13]

after taking a closer look, i don't believe my ball joints are in need of replacing at this time. but now my question is, for the extra 300 bucks, should i just go ahead and do them while i have it apart. I plan on keeping the car for at least another 50k miles, and if they are going to wear before then, i feel like i might as well just do them now. I'm don't really have he cash to spend since i plan on doing a few other things, but if they are only going to last another 25k miles, i'd rather take care of them before it becomes a problem.

any ideas on how long the ball joints usually do last? and is there anything else that i should change out while im down there, or on any other area of the vehicle? 100k miles, pretty much worry free (as long as i've owned it at least), looking to go another 100k

[SteveTheTech]

Are you planning on getting lower ball joints serpately from the lower control arm or the whole thing together.

Unless there is play I wouldn't personally recommend that as a replacement item. I like to try to prove things are bad before spending money on thinks. Being a rear wheel drive car replacing the lower ball joint is a cake walk. This isn't an old Bronco or any Ford van that requires u joints and a new set of Moog ball joints every couple of years. The majority of problems associated with the suspension on the M are noise related.

[M45Caliber]

I replaced both the front and rear struts on my '03 M45 a few months back. Same "clunking sound" and it comes NOT from the struts, but from a front sway bar mount/bushing. The clunks in the rear were coming from the strut bushings or plates that are used at the top of the struts/strut towers to insulate & prevent metal to metal contact. The odds are that you will not alleviate the noise in the front with the strut replacement -- but will need to look into the sway bar links (how they were described in my work order (Infiniti Elite warranty covered these).

Parts:Rod Assy - connecting, - 54668-AR00B and 54618-AR00A (right and left sides)

My M is now as quiet as the day she rolled off the lot.

[kamezzle13]

thanks for the heads up, im adding these to my list of parts instead of the balljoints

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

I really do appreciate your input, it would have been dissapointing to have a smooth ride again, but still the clunking

[M45Caliber]

My service tech -- who has worked on my car since day one at that dealership -- says this is a common problem with the Y34's. He knew what it was just going over one small speed bump. Although only one side seemed to be making the noise, he said the other one was not far behind, so he ordered/replaced them both. Good tech, and he knows and likes the car - as I am a stickler about maintenance and warranty work. He makes money and I stay happy!

ALSO: Make sure you replace the strut bumpers and/or insulators - and that's what wears out and allows the struts to move around and make noises.
Modified by M45Caliber at 8:40 PM 3/7/2010

[Dirtyjerz]

Discounted price from IoS for the Y34 lower control arm, including the ball joint. is $186.54 each.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

I was told 296 for left lower control arm with ball joints how did you find that price is there a discount code?

[MaxBolus]

Keep in mind loystock's post is 4 years old, prices always go up..

I bought two in May 2013 and paid $207 apiece with no discount code. $296 seems like a big jump, tho.

[Northern Pine]

I am aware that this post is 5+ years old, however does anyone have any leads on Left Lower Control Arms in South Western Ontario or is the only available place http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/ ? I have sourced it through Infiniti (Dealer) at 423 Canadian plus tax and shipping. My ball joint is shot and as you guys know its one piece. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Sully]

I just picked up a 2003 m45 and just ordered ball joints and bushing. I'm hoping that I can press out the old and press in the new. I'll let you know in a week.

[BlackCat81]

I'm an Infiniti tech and have never replaced a ball joint on an M. They last forever. Your noise is probably a sway bar link. I have an 06 M35 with 205k on original ball joints.

[Northern Pine]

Thanks for the replies, although I still believe it is a ball joint issue. When the car is on jacks there is about an inch or two of play on the left tire (Pushing on the tire at 3 and 9). The right side has barely any play. Let me know Blackcat if you still think its the sway bar.

[Six_Legs]

Wheel bearings might be your problem...

[BlackCat81]

Thanks for the replies, although I still believe it is a ball joint issue. When the car is on jacks there is about an inch or two of play on the left tire (Pushing on the tire at 3 and 9). The right side has barely any play. Let me know Blackcat if you still think its the sway bar.

Left and right play from 3 and 9 is usually a wheel bearing OR an outer tie rod, something that's VERY common on older M's. Ball joint play is typically felt from 12 and 6. If I were a betting man, I'd almost guarantee it needs outer tie rods. If you really have that much play, something is seriously dangerously loose.

[Sully]

So I discovered the ball joints are not replaceable. I assume they would need to be machined out; however, I'm not sure there is enough material in the control arm to be able to do that and keep the strength. Therefore, I'm going with two new arms and will try to return the replacement bushings and ball joints.