I've been hearing some squeaking while turning the wheel for the last couple weeks, but I kept putting it off.
I was doing 80 mph on cruise when this happened. I'm pretty lucky, it could have been a lot worse!










I am happy to report that she is back on the road though! It only took a couple hours to fix surprisingly. I only had to install a new lower ball joint, CV axle, rotor, tire and alignment. Did the work myself, except alignment, totalled a little over $200. MAN I WAS LUCKY!

 

Yes definitely lucky! Just did my lower ball joints recently. They had a bit of play. New Moog parts and nice and tight again

 

Changed both my lower ball joints a few months ago and will re-grease them in the spring.

 

In the second photo, it looks like the ball joint was removed from the control arm, as opposed to wearing out and separating. When a ball joint wears out, and falls apart, the ball and stud are still in the control arm. Without more information, I'd guess the nut backed off, and allowed the stud to fall out. Who installed it?

 

completely over 9000! that wasn't a failing ball joint. Look at the thread on the BJ looks like it snapped from either over-torque or lack of.

 

don't those things have castle nuts + cotter pins for a reason?
and not to mention a cotter pin which stops the nut from coming off?

 

Agreed, that balljoint did not wear out. If it did then the ball would separated from the housing and still would be stuck in the lca socket. That is a case of failing to check your work and not tightening and installing a cotter pin through the castle nut. I have seen both happen many times so I know the difference.

 

want to guess how many unqualified people are working on cars and forget something seemingly unimportant- like a cotter pin
with resultant failure down the road!