Hi, I have a 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5 AT with almost 200k miles. I’ve owned the car since new. For the last couple years I’ve found myself replacing the front lower ball joints on this car about once a year. I don’t do as much daily driving on this car as was done in its earlier years, mostly just weekend camping trips about once a month and short distance around-town driving during the week. The ball joints seem to be making some rattling sound when I drive over bumpy roads or dirt roads. I can replace the ball joints with genuine Subaru dealer parts or cheap Amazon parts; it doesn’t seem to make a difference. After replacing the ball joints, if I go for a weekend trip on a dirt road and come back into the city, I can hear this rattiling. When I replace the ball joints, the sound goes away until I take it on a dirt road again. I’m starting to think maybe there are some other suspension components that may be worn that could be causing premature wear of the ball joints. The shocks have never been replaced on this vehicle, but as best as I can tell, they’re not worn or failing. Any suggestions? Should I just get new shocks because of the age and mileage on this car? Or Is there another, more likely culprit? This rattling suspension sound did not occur at all in the first several years of the car’s life and I drove quite a lot of dirt roads during that time as well. Thanks!
Could be an upper strut mount has gone bad. Or try replacing the sway bar links. Start with the sway bar links. Alot cheaper.
@urbanescapee
And even the cheapest ball joint should last atleast 2 yrs.
Take it to a reputed front end shop and get their expert diagnosis, before you go and start replacing parts at random.
You’re right in thinking there’s something else at play which is causing premature wear of the ball joints.