Loose Ball Joint - Will I Die If I Drive?

[WhiterThanChalk]

Hey guys,

Just did an oil change and while there they informed me I had a 'Right Front Lower Ball Joint Loose' (as it says on the paper). When he was showing me I didn't really have any idea what I was looking at/for, but it didn't seem too bad (minor wiggle). They quoted the repair at about $400-500 ish for everything (part, install, alignment).

1) Is that an accurate quote?

2) Will I die if I drive it?
- Been driving on it for a bit now I believe, and home is 1 hour drive from current living location (school). I presume it should be fine, but just try to stay away from all unnecessary driving until fixed? Less time driving = less wear and tear, less problems, less chance of death.

3) Advice?

[TRECLA]

common problem. shop around and see what other prices you get. i think 400-500 is high, try asking jimmy at street performance.

[XTOTHEL]

2) you won't die right now, but if you don't replace it soon, it might wear even more and break...Also it'll mess with your alignment and in turn cause tire wear. Could end up more costly.

[MK519]

replace it bro, i had the same thing happen to me on my way to montreal, luckily it didnt snap on the freeway, it snapped when i turned onto my friends street. do you hear clicking noises when you turn?

[Jackal]

2) you won't die right now, but if you don't replace it soon, it might wear even more and break...Also it'll mess with your alignment and in turn cause tire wear. Could end up more costly.

This. Any good alignment shop won't even do the alignment until you get this fixed. It will get worse and will show up as a vibration during highway drives.

[Xerxes9]

Go to jimmy at street performance. He's probably one of the few more honest working guys that charge very reasonably for amazing work. I'll be at his shop Thursday.

[dentinger]

you could dead if not fixed soon.

jesus, i get asked this all the time at work. "how bad is it? can it wait 6 months? i only drive really drive in town"

[McGuyver_3]

you could dead if not fixed soon.

jesus, i get asked this all the time at work. "how bad is it? can it wait 6 months? i only drive really drive in town"

+1
I don't have an answer for you. Could break on the way out of the shop, could last another 5 years. Replace it and get it over with. They are probably quoting the whole arm which is better anyways(my guess around 250. that's what my Nissan one just recently cost me) . probably 1 hour labor and an alignment. Price is very reasonable

[SonicBoy]

You may not die but you may kill someone else.

Neglecting a problem doesn't always make it go away. Get it fixed sooner than later and try not to stress it by driving on the highway. It could end up costing you more in repairs. (ie tires or something else).

[416GXM3]

Any body know where to buy the Ball Joint part for Mazda 3 sport GX 2011. I have the exact same problem after a routine oil change yesterday. "right Front Lower Ball Joint is Loose".

Also if anyone has recommendations as to why rotors need to be replaced when I see that the rotors are still ok. My car is only 116k and front brakes needs to be replaced.

Thanks everyone

[iAaronx]

Any body know where to buy the Ball Joint part for Mazda 3 sport GX 2011. I have the exact same problem after a routine oil change yesterday. "right Front Lower Ball Joint is Loose".

Also if anyone has recommendations as to why rotors need to be replaced when I see that the rotors are still ok. My car is only 116k and front brakes needs to be replaced.

Thanks everyone
My right one was loose but its pressed into the control arm , unfortunately you gotta replace the whole arm -_- ive HEARD that you can force yhe ball joint out and press a new one in but that just sounds risky.

[416GXM3]

My right one was loose but its pressed into the control arm , unfortunately you gotta replace the whole arm -_- ive HEARD that you can force yhe ball joint out and press a new one in but that just sounds risky.

damn so that 400 dollars qoute is furreal (this sucks) ive only driven the car for two years

[Aitch]

2 years but 116k - not surprised that things are starting to wear out.

The rotors may be ok or they may not, depends on how much you trust the people telling you to replace them. Sometimes there is life left in them but "the book" says replace the pads and rotors together (or replace at that mileage), but sometimes they may look ok but have worn unevenly.

[Flagrum_3]

damn so that 400 dollars qoute is furreal (this sucks) ive only driven the car for two years

Well $400 is a dealer quote, you can easily get it done for maybe half that. Order the control arm and get it installed somewhere else. Rotors should be changed with pads in most cases...again check out deals for the parts. I just purchased a complete brake kit at MaxBrakes for $190 taxes in.


_3

[416GXM3]

Well $400 is a dealer quote, you can easily get it done for maybe half that. Order the control arm and get it installed somewhere else. Rotors should be changed with pads in most cases...again check out deals for the parts. I just purchased a complete brake kit at MaxBrakes for $190 taxes in.


_3

so the actual dealer quote is 335 i also got a quote for brakes and pads for 490 plus tax.

damn 1000 repair for a car that is only with me for two years!.. is that even normal

[Milan96]

I was having control arm issues on my 2010. Went to Jimmy and he told me they need to be replaced. It's funny because Jimmy's labour to replace both arms was less than what I had to pay for the parts. Nevertheless, if you guys need OEM replacements, there's a place at the corner of Matheson and Kennedy in Mississauga that orders you OEM parts for Mazda but at at least a 20% discount. Dealer wanted ~$500 for two arms when I went, bought them through these wholesalers for ~$380. That's the route I recommend when replacing with OEM parts if you're in the GTA. Place is called OEM fleets. Good luck!

[Flagrum_3]

so the actual dealer quote is 335 i also got a quote for brakes and pads for 490 plus tax.

damn 1000 repair for a car that is only with me for two years!.. is that even normal

Does that include labour in both cases?


I was having control arm issues on my 2010. Went to Jimmy and he told me they need to be replaced. It's funny because Jimmy's labour to replace both arms was less than what I had to pay for the parts. Nevertheless, if you guys need OEM replacements, there's a place at the corner of Matheson and Kennedy in Mississauga that orders you OEM parts for Mazda but at at least a 20% discount. Dealer wanted ~$500 for two arms when I went, bought them through these wholesalers for ~$380. That's the route I recommend when replacing with OEM parts if you're in the GTA. Place is called OEM fleets. Good luck!

Can you post the name of this place? ...Would be good to know and appreciated.

Most of our affiliated dealers will give you atleast 15% off parts and labour, but as for the control arms at $380, you can get 2 top line Moog control arms, for the same price, which are better then OEM; better quality bushings and best of all greasable independent ball joints, which means if the ball joint goes again only the ball joint has to be replaced, not the entire control arm.

_3

[Aitch]

so the actual dealer quote is 335 i also got a quote for brakes and pads for 490 plus tax.

damn 1000 repair for a car that is only with me for two years!.. is that even normal

Is your mileage actually 116k as stated? Then yes, it's not unexpected to be paying $500/year in maintenance for a car over 100k. Things go wrong, things break, things wear out. Welcome to the world of car ownership! It sucks when you get unexpected bills but that's how it is.

[416GXM3]

Does that include labour in both cases?



Can you post the name of this place? ...Would be good to know and appreciated.

Most of our affiliated dealers will give you atleast 15% off parts and labour, but as for the control arms at $380, you can get 2 top line Moog control arms, for the same price, which are better then OEM; better quality bushings and best of all greasable independent ball joints, which means if the ball joint goes again only the ball joint has to be replaced, not the entire control arm.

_3

Hey Flagrum thanks for the response man. where can I buy that Moog Control arms in the GTA area

[416GXM3]

Is your mileage actually 116k as stated? Then yes, it's not unexpected to be paying $500/year in maintenance for a car over 100k. Things go wrong, things break, things wear out. Welcome to the world of car ownership! It sucks when you get unexpected bills but that's how it is.

its 116780 basically if you want it to be exact. Ok thanks for the heads up at least I know now I have to reserve 500 bucks for unforseen repairs from now on

[416GXM3]

Does that include labour in both cases?



Can you post the name of this place? ...Would be good to know and appreciated.

Most of our affiliated dealers will give you atleast 15% off parts and labour, but as for the control arms at $380, you can get 2 top line Moog control arms, for the same price, which are better then OEM; better quality bushings and best of all greasable independent ball joints, which means if the ball joint goes again only the ball joint has to be replaced, not the entire control arm.

_3

MIlan Mind you thats only the right front control arm at 335 and I think its plus labor and wheel alignment 490 is for two brakes and rotors with labour

[416GXM3]

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4585092&cc=1447276&jnid=474&jpid=40

I got this from Rock AUTO

and this from AUTO PARTS WAREHOUSE:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Mazda/3/Moog/Control_Arm/2011/Sport_GX/4_Cyl_2-dot-0L/MORK621461.html


Anyone can confirm if this is the right part?

[Flagrum_3]

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4585092&cc=1447276&jnid=474&jpid=40

I got this from Rock AUTO

and this from AUTO PARTS WAREHOUSE:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Mazda/3/Moog/Control_Arm/2011/Sport_GX/4_Cyl_2-dot-0L/MORK621461.html


Anyone can confirm if this is the right part?

I can't confirm the part, as I have an '05, looks very similar, just double check the part numbers. I changed both my LCAs last year at $109 each control arm, and installed cheap at an independent. Got the LCAs from CT, but PartSource carry them also.

Also $490 for just the fronts is expensive as shit! As I said; $190 for the "Elite brake package", lower packages are cheaper obviously. ALL four corners and installation $100 labour, again same independent.


_3

[416GXM3]

Where can I buy that elite brake package you are talking about

Are you taking about max brakes?

[Milan96]

I posted the name in that post. OEM Fleets. Also, I went by Jimmy's recommendation on control arms. He told me to stick with OEM control arms and specifically told me to not go after-market. Also, just to clarify, I got BOTH control arms for $380 taxes in with OEM fleets.

[Flagrum_3]

Where can I buy that elite brake package you are talking about

Are you taking about max brakes?

Yeah MaxBrakes. That price was last month though on sale, but I'm pretty sure you can get the step down package for that now. Check them out...I just installed them and they seem pretty good so far.

[Flagrum_3]

I posted the name in that post. OEM Fleets. Also, I went by Jimmy's recommendation on control arms. He told me to stick with OEM control arms and specifically told me to not go after-market. Also, just to clarify, I got BOTH control arms for $380 taxes in with OEM fleets.

Sorry missed the OEM Fleets lol, thanks. Hey no problem, if someone wants to stick to OEM all the power to them. But considering how so many of these ballpoints and LC Arms seem to be falling apart on the 3s, its well worth checking out after market. And as I said the Moog upper brand has a independent ballpoint, which is greasable. The oem doesn't offer this.

*okay apparently they don't carry the independent ball joint LCAs for the 2010s unfortunately.


_3

[416GXM3]

I've I'm on their website now and about to order the OE replacement kit for the front. Not sure if I should invest in the elite series though?

[Flagrum_3]

I've I'm on their website now and about to order the OE replacement kit for the front. Not sure if I should invest in the elite series though?

That's totally up to you lol...and your present financial situation.

[iAaronx]

I got my right arm done for 290 + labor at nextmod mississauga, i mean it sounded fair price not sure for just one arm somewhere else though. Thats also an option for yah

[ryan2.3]

416GXM3 ive got the control arm from my 2011 hatch. 70k km on it. $50 i can bring it to the GTA this weekend. give you both for $80

on my Gen1, i did one of my control arms a year and a half ago at about 240k km. the other one is still working out well at 270k km



Well $400 is a dealer quote, you can easily get it done for maybe half that. Order the control arm and get it installed somewhere else. Rotors should be changed with pads in most cases...again check out deals for the parts. I just purchased a complete brake kit at MaxBrakes for $190 taxes in.


_3

the brakes are even cheaper right now. $160CAD shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Mazda-3-2-3L-Silver-Zinc-Slot-Drill-Rotor-Max-Pads-F-R-/371498816271?hash=item567f0e130f:g:MicAAOSwHQ9WXdy k&vxp=mtr

[Flagrum_3]

I got my right arm done for 290 + labor at nextmod mississauga, i mean it sounded fair price not sure for just one arm somewhere else though. Thats also an option for yah

$290 for one arm +plus labour? ...Rip off....Sorry to hear.

[iAaronx]

After the fact that i got it done and told some of my friends. I realized that it was after they laughed -_-

[416GXM3]

MAN! I will definitely get that from you ryan2.3

I'll just inbox you to get your contacts


iAaronx Thanks for the heads up man.

You guys just saved me alot of MONEY!

[Flagrum_3]

MAN! I will definitely get that from you ryan2.3

I'll just inbox you to get your contacts


iAaronx Thanks for the heads up man.

You guys just saved me alot of MONEY!

Damn what luck, doesn't get better then that.

[Flagrum_3]

416GXM3 ive got the control arm from my 2011 hatch. 70k km on it. $50 i can bring it to the GTA this weekend. give you both for $80

on my Gen1, i did one of my control arms a year and a half ago at about 240k km. the other one is still working out well at 270k km




the brakes are even cheaper right now. $160CAD shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Mazda-3-2-3L-Silver-Zinc-Slot-Drill-Rotor-Max-Pads-F-R-/371498816271?hash=item567f0e130f:g:MicAAOSwHQ9WXdy k&vxp=mtr

That's what I was saying, those are the step down from the Elite and an awesome price for all four corners.

[416GXM3]

That's what I was saying, those are the step down from the Elite and an awesome price for all four corners.

TM3 you did it again! thanks Everyone.. Luck just turned way today..

ryan is gonna hook me up with that control arm and I just placed the orders for the brakes and rotor kit

[416GXM3]

just wanted to give shout out to ryan2.3 for meeting me halfway tonight and hooking up the front control arms. great to see and meet awesome people on tm3