Ball joints are a common cause of problems in the suspension and steering systems of new vehicles. They can be easy to replace if they need to be or else they can be difficult to replace if they are riveted or pressed into place. If you have ones that are simply bolted in place or threaded in take a look at this Ball Joint Replacement and Inspection. That article will tell you how to properly diagnose and replace bolted on or threaded in ball joints.
OTC-6530 Ball Joint Master Kit
Replacing your alternator
If your battery on your vehicle is constantly going dead forcing you to have to jump start your vehicle, it is likely that you have an alternator that is not working correctly.
The alternator on your vehicle provides voltage to your vehicle. This voltage is created and used by your vehicle and the accessories in your vehicle. The alternator produces more voltage than your vehicle needs and the excess voltage is then stored in your vehicles battery. The battery will provide a supply of voltage to start the vehicle. If your alternator is not putting out as much voltage as it should be then it will not have any excess to charge your battery, thus causing you to have a dead battery when you go to start your vehicle.
I suggest that you review this Basic Electronics article before you go ahead and replace your alternator. A simple test that you can do is to test the voltage at your battery with your vehicle running. You should have something greater than 13.5 DC Volts, this shows that your alternator is providing enough voltage to charge the battery.
Once you have determined that you need to replace your alternator then you can move onto the next procedure that we will discuss.
