hey guys i bought lower ball joints from autozone i took them to a shop to get them put in and the mech said they were no good because the joints wouldnt move around at all. the mech got another one from autozone, same brand and everything. but these would move around but were still pretty stiff. when i was driving home i noticed the steering felt heavy and the steering didnt feel as smooth as it did. do ball joints need to be broken in at all? thanks btw i own a 98 civic ex coupe. thanks

 

New ball joints should be stiff. In fact, the parts that you couldn't move by hand may have been okay.

Since your old joints were so warn out, you may really notice a difference between the feel of the loose old joints and the tight new joints. Also, make sure you get a wheel alighment. If your caster setting is off, you may have a "heavier" feeling as well.

 

Yeah even used ones are sometimes still too stiff to move easily by hand, so that's not it. The wheel alignment should be checked.

 

i noticed that the alighnment is off ill get it done today. thanks guys.

 

well new ball joints still stiffen it up alittle but it will feel like normal pretty soon....
or ya just get used to it.

it will stiffen it up alittle. depending how bad yoru old ones were...