Help with Ball Joints MPS6

[rogwick]

Not likely I'll get much response as I never see anyone talking about it but my front left ball joint is failing as I experience a "click" sound when I turn, go over bumps or the weight shifts around.

1. Has anyone had any ball joint related issues?
2. Has anyone modified/replaced their ball joints?

So far I've inquired at Mazda for a new LHS upper control arm. The price has gone up since they last quoted and its around $400+ (not fitted) I've heard good and bad from SPC ball joints so if anyone has any info that would be appreciated.

1273072851-spc-balljoint.jpg

Once I get it sorted I'll be posting pics and info to this thread and edit the title in case anyone has a similar issue and requires the same info I'm currently chasing.

Cheers

[bd581]

Are you 100% sure its a ball joint issue?
Normally you'll notice free play in it before any noise.

If you don't already know, jack the car up and grab the wheel at top and bottom and rock the wheel, if you have movement you have a problem.
This is why I hate some states rego laws, if you get an inspection done once a year, issues will be most likely found and then sorted before it becomes a dangerous problem.

Oh, I'm not entirely sure, but on a 6, I think you should jack the car up under the lower control arm to check it.

[rogwick]

Not 100% but I've turned the wheel left and right and had dad place his hand over the ball joint as it "clicks" can feel a vibration come from the ball joint so my guess was the ball joint.

This weekend I'll rock the wheel, I did do it a while ago and there didn't appear to be movement but I'll need to do it again.

[kmh001]

Mate this is not a decision to be made on price. Assuming a defective ball joint is confirmed, a new OEM control arm is the only reliable and safe way to go.

I've read about far too many SPC failures. They are visibly less robust than the OEM part and it seems to be a question of when, not if they'll fail. And when they do you'll need new control arms anyway. A member on this forum had this experience (BCMPS I think).

It's not pretty when a wheel falls off as a result of ball joint failure. It's a false economy to go cheap on safety critical components.

[rogwick]

That's why I was looking to replace them. Just a pair off ebay (not SPC) for $40. For the cheap price I thought I would see them in the flesh.

A control arm is at least a month away from Japan. If not happy with these I'll have to get OEM control arm.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[rogwick]

Just for info. I had both ball joints replaced yesterday. Turns out both were rooted and just flapped around rather than being a stiff joint.
Apparently its a common replacement part. Note pic shown is not mine, just a google image search result but mine were similar. So far so good and no clicking noises or anything