Sheared off lower ball joint

[Kenm4187]

Jerry,

The steering arm bent and then broke. From the pictures it looks like it bent around the lower shock mount after the lower ball joint sheared off. The tie rod end has been in that location for about 8 months. There were no marks from anything hitting and there was no tire rub on sharp turns. It did not happen during hard turning or braking. The ball joints were the ones that came with the car (about 1400 miles on them). Here are some pictures of the broken steering arm.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...4187/002-1.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...4187/003-1.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...4187/004-2.jpg

Thanks, for the input.

Kenm2560

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

Well I see the possibility of at least 3 ways

Wrong application for type of ball joint

Steering load

Brake torque load

Combination of steering and brake forces

Binding in upper shaft

In the pictures it looks like the steering arm has been moved to the short location--this will increase the loading on the tie rod which is broken---if this happened first the wheel would turn out from the load and could rip out or break either ball joint

Not trying to be a smart ie but -------

Jerry