Um, be sure to check your ball joints

[zamoti]

Got tires (won't say where just yet), shop said they checked the ball joints. Turned out they didn't and one let go around a corner. While the onus of who's at fault is still being debated I post this as a warning to others since my CX9 only has about 110k miles on it. Searching around I see toyotas and hondas dropping lower ball joints around 200k so this seems a bit premature. I will only guess that heavy Mazda and first model year may be part of the deal here and maybe the design was later revised.

At any rate, as the title says, be sure to check your ball joints or at least make sure that the next time it goes onto a lift that someone does or you can ride the flatbed like I had to.

 

[Preferio]

Got tires (won't say where just yet), shop said they checked the ball joints. Turned out they didn't and one let go around a corner. While the onus of who's at fault is still being debated I post this as a warning to others since my CX9 only has about 110k miles on it. Searching around I see toyotas and hondas dropping lower ball joints around 200k so this seems a bit premature. I will only guess that heavy Mazda and first model year may be part of the deal here and maybe the design was later revised.

It's a fairly common suspension setup and, honestly, professionally, 110k isn't premature. Look at Ford ball joints. A common item on Fords. Ball joint wear is dependent on maintenance, driving habits and road conditions. And to my knowledge, there isn't a supersession of the OEM number, so unlikely a known issue with these. Especially with it being a ball joint... The NHTSB would be all over that.

 

[voldsom]

O.P. what kind of damage did you see as a result of the ball joint "letting go?"
I've seen some pretty nasty cases lately, albeit from pretty modified Toyota 4Runners and Tacomas, so they are typically pushing the suspension to the extreme. I'm curious what a normal driving case looked like...

 

[zamoti]

It yanked the CV joint out, looks like it tore the boot in the process, brake line was WAY stretched and I presume will need to be replaced, it broke what appears to be the stabalizer link end, and ruined the tire. I haven't seen it since it left on the flatbed but I'm guessing it did more damage then what I saw. If I can find a place to host the pic, I'll put it up, but it's crummy phone picture at dusk, so you can't see much more than the folded wheel.
Just since I'm frustrated, Tire Discounters has been absolutely AWFUL about handling this whole thing.

 

[zamoti]

That it's worn at 110k, that's not a surprise, but that it let go sure as hell was. I've driven a lot of trash in my days and even my most abused cars never popped a ball joint. At any rate, hopefully others can learn from my mistakes, check your balls (naughty)

 

[just_phil]

Both lower control arms were replaced at 109k after I noticed wicked front tire wear on the inside. I was under the car while my wife rocked the steering wheel, and I could easily see the ball joints moving in and out. I think maybe the car size is the culprit, as I've had a few smaller cars well past that mileage and no issues with the ball joints.

 

[table5511]

Maybe it shares Mazda 6 / Taurus / Edge Lower control arms? Cx-9 is heaviest of all. Praying for my water pump and my ball joints as We drive 500 miles today lol.

 

[Scott91370]

...honestly, professionally, 110k isn't premature...

I've never replaced a ball joint on a vehicle and all have had (well) over 110k.
1985 Hardbody - 200k+
1989 Isuzu p'up - 150k
1992 cavalier - 200k
1992 Hardbody - 225k
1996 Eclipse - 140k
2000 Sentra - 130k
2004 Tribute - 285k and still driving it

110k is nothing. Hopefully they have figured out something and are making them better than they did 8 years ago.

 

[voldsom]

Hopefully they have figured out something and are making them better than they did 8 years ago.

^^THIS. I say that every time I read an 07 or 08 owner with a random problem with the suspension or transmission...