Elle wrote:
>
> "joutlaw" <joutlaw@jam.rr.com> wrote
> > Well they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here
> > are a few:
> >
> > Right Front Tire
> >
> > http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2083/rftire2lu.jpg
>
> Looks like my right front tire (Civic, 177k miles, wear
> noticed around 175k miles late 2005, I think).
>
> My right stabilizer link was the one that was all corroded.
> Its rubbers practically crumbled in my hand; the bolt was
> seriously eaten away.
>
> Ya oughta post photographs of your stabilizer links. :-)
>
> My ball joint boots all look pretty good (knock on wood).
>
> > Right Front Lower Ball Joint
> >
> > http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5...lljoint7vp.jpg
>
> Is that black lava flowing out at the bottom? It's a little
> hard to tell if the boot is ripped up here. But I guess from
> what you say, it's toast.
>
> > Right Front Upper Ball Joint
> >
> > http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/504...lljoint8wp.jpg
>
> Oh mah goodness! Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing here?
> Yikes! Frightening!
>
> I vote replace the right front upper BJ and its boot first.
>
> How could it get this bad?
>
> > Left Front Tire
> >
> > http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/7889/lftire3qm.jpg
>
> Doesn't look as bad as my 91 Civic's right front tire. :-)
>
> > Left Front Lower Ball Joint
> >
> > http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6...lljoint8sl.jpg
>
> Looks like the boot is letting in dirt and water due to
> being corroded at the bottom.
>
> > Left Front Upper Ball Joint
> >
> > http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4...lljoint0gu.jpg
>
> Is that an obvious crack/corrosion I see in the middle of
> this left front upper BJ boot?
>
> > Obviously the right side is the worst, but it apears both
> > sides are leaking at the seals.
>
> Note: There's nothing to really leak except maybe a tiny bit
> of grease. Those boots are there "just" to keep dirt and
> water out, AFAIK.
>
> > The wear is much more noticable on the right tire as well.
> > The tire wear is spotty too on the inner part of the tire.
>
> Sounds like you're on a mission which in my never humble
> opinion is very healthy. Enjoy. :-)


It is always good to remember that the right hand (curb) side usually
suffers the worst for damage/wear as that's where most puddles and road
defects exist. Over a period of time, this damage really stands out.

JT