All car companies strive to ensure all necessary means for the proper functioning and balance of cars, so as not to expose drivers to any risk that may lead to serious injury. In this article, we will talk about one of the important parts for balancing the car and controlling it while driving, which is the balancing screw.
What is the balance nail in the car?
When the car turns quickly and sharply, there is a possibility for the car to lean and flip if there is no tool protecting it and preventing it from leaning excessively. This tool is called the stabilizer bar, which is one of the components of the suspension system in the car. You will notice its significant importance when it gets damaged, as you will suffer from difficulties in driving. In addition to this, you will notice that the car leans heavily when it turns while driving at speeds over 50 kilometers per hour, which will make driving in this case dangerous and unstable. For this reason, when the stabilizer bar is damaged, it is advised to be cautious while driving and not to speed, especially at turns.
When should the balance screws be changed?
As for the lifespan of the balance nail, usually, the nails start to wear out after covering a distance of 100,000 kilometers, especially the front nails, and they can continue to work without any problems for a long period.
Symptoms of Balance Screw Damage
Searching for signs of damage to the balance screw has become a topic of interest to many individuals, and many have searched for these signs. If you, dear reader, are one of those individuals looking for these signs, this paragraph is dedicated to you. We will provide the top 3 indicators of a potential malfunction in the balance screw, signaling a need for its replacement. These symptoms are:
Tire tread wear
Damage to the balance screw can lead to uneven wear among the car's tires, where they wear in a manner different to the usual. Sometimes, a lateral bulge may appear in one of the tires, also known as tire deformation, which may indicate an issue with the balance screws.
Hearing clicking noises
One of the major symptoms indicating damage to the balance screw is noise, and the reason for this noise is that the screws have rubber caps at their ends which can crack over time, unlike the rest of the screw parts made of durable steel that last for a long period. Additionally, this noise may occur due to another reason, such as the leakage of grease from some parts of the screw, as this leakage causes strange noises especially when turning and going over bumps. Therefore, if you hear clicking noises while driving, it is best to check the condition of the screws. This can easily be done by looking under the car. Keep in mind that the screws in the front suspension system are more prone to damage than those in the rear suspension system.
Also read:6 Signs Indicating Damage to the Car's Arms
Losing control of the car
Despite the small size of the balance screws compared to the size of the car, their role should never be underestimated. If these small parts are damaged, they can cause a disruption in the car's balance and result in loss of control. The driver might not be able to properly handle the steering wheel, causing the car to sway abnormally. For this reason, these screws should be tightly fastened and it should be ensured that their ends remain as hard as necessary to avoid these problems. It is also recommended to check them when replacing brake pads.
Can the car be driven after the balance screw is damaged?
In fact, there are several possible scenarios for damage to the balance screw, and the severity varies from case to case. Some cars have only front screws, some have only rear, and some have both front and rear screws. If the front screws get damaged, it requires utmost caution, as this is the most difficult and dangerous situation due to the difficulty of controlling the car, which increases the possibility of accidents.
If the rear screws are damaged, this situation is less dangerous, but caution must still be exercised, as the car will sway unusually. This could pose a risk if you cannot adapt to the new driving method. The reason for this excessive swaying is that the weight of the car will significantly influence the swaying angle when turning and curving. Symptoms may be more evident in sports cars than in regular passenger cars.
Should the screws on both ends be changed together?
Theoretically, it's not necessary to change both, it's sufficient to just change the damaged one. However, it's typically recommended to change both, as the screws on both ends usually wear out at the same rate. In addition, the damaged screw on one end can cause damage to the other end.
Balance nail price
The process of changingBalance NailIt's not a difficult task, and anyone can do it with a little necessary knowledge. Also, it is not expensive, usually the cost for one side is around 60-180 Riyals for various types of cars. As we mentioned before, you don't need to change it unless it's damaged.
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