Do you own a car and maybe hate spending on the car’s maintenance? If no, then you are one in a million. Cars and generally any automobile and pieces of machinery out here require sacrifice and determination when you decide to own one. The sacrifice and determination get into action when you think of maintaining and looking after your car. The practice is never a walk-through or soft as you may think of. Cars are assets whose value and quality depreciated even when they are stagnant and not in use. The rate of depreciation will only be affected by how much you inject into the care and maintenance. That’s is how much money to spend and the having a scheduled maintenance practice.
Research has it that a car that has over 40,000 parts on average will reap you off over $500 a year in terms of maintenance. However, this is just an estimate of perhaps a car that is not problematic and also still in a good condition and obviously of low mileage. When you buy a brand-new car, you need to brace yourself for what is coming in the future. You will either have a smooth experience with your car or a pretty messy and rough experience. The smooth side will only come once you put in extra effort in the car and maintenance of your car.
Can ball joints get covered in an extended warranty?
Now, an extended warranty covers a huge percentage of your car. You need to know that parts that are subjected to frequent wear and tear do not fit to warranted against. In a car, parts such as Tires, paint, headlights, brake pads, and clutch plates just to name a few are parts that will depreciate and wear off and need replacement. However, for the ball joint, many ball joint extended warranty policies will cover them since they are not considered parts that are prone to wear and tear. Ball joints do get faulty and that happens due to frequent rough road driving or poor driving manners. One cannot qualify to put a claim on a faulty ball joint when he/she is responsible for the breakdown or is caused by natural calamities. Only issues that are brought about by mechanical failures can be subjected to claims from an extended warranty provider.
How ball joints work
If you are a keen and concerned car lover and do care a lot about your car, there is no way you can afford not to identify a ball joint. This type of joint usually located on the front wheel plays a very crucial responsibility that is a MUST. Ball joints come in a shape and design that is similar to the pelvic bone of a human being. It comes with a socket in which a ball-like structure fits. They consist of a stud and a housing in which the stud is placed. There are bearings inside the house which are applied with greases to provide lubrication for the rotating stud. The ball joints are then mounted onto the front suspension and connected to the steering knuckle.
They, therefore, help control and maneuver the front wheels which make turning possible. Ball joints however do wear ad tear out with time. This happens in most cases where dirt and water penetrate the house. However, that cannot be a big deal if you get a ball joint extended warranty cover. Below are signs that alert you when the ball joint needs to be fixed;
Rattling noise– This kind of noise can be heard in the front suspension especially when making turns or even driving on bumpy and rough roads. It is usually caused by a loose stud in the housing.
Car wandering- You will notice this when the steering wheel starts moving from the left to the right. A ball joint is usually connected to the steering wheel and when it is faulty, it affects the maneuvering process of a car. However, steering wander can also be a sign of poor alignment. So, make sure to check on the two when this sign shows up.
Uneven tire wear– This is also another great indicator that you need to change your ball joint immediately. If you come across such kind of wearing, you need to check if your ball joints are in good condition.
The above signs should not worry you if you have a ball joint extended warranty in hand. This can be covered under a bumper-to-bumper warranty or even a powertrain warranty.
Repairing ball joints.
When one ball joint gets faulty, early intervention is necessary. Ball joints repairs usually go for around $20 to $80 to get them repaired. This is not expensive at all. However, depending on the car make, you can even spend more. Replacements on the other hand go slightly higher, that is $100- $150.
Conclusion.
Since ball joints are parts involved infrequent use and therefore can damage at any moment, they always don’t have a longer usage span. They do not last forever. Some begin to wear out after hitting 70,000 miles and others surpass that mark and go beyond. Since they can be covered by a ball joint extended warranty, you will likely not spend your own money to them fixed or replaced.