I had started to hear a squeaking noise coming from the front suspension over the winter months when the temperatures are colder. It was pretty bad at one point, but subsided with the arrival of warmer weather in the spring. I am familiar with this squeak and realized that the inevitable was approaching. Time to break out the jack stands and get to work . . .

Lower Ball joints for a Chrysler Cirrus aren't available separately, and must be serviced as part of the lower control arm.

While it may give the impression of "expensive," new lower control arms were surprisingly cheap - less than $60 each. But even if the ball joint was available separately, the labor cost of removing the old ball joint and pressing the new one in its place would exceed the price of the new control arm. Buying the whole assembly is definitely the way to go.

The lower control arm is bolted to the front subframe in two spots.

There is also a bolt for the strut, and for the ball joint, itself.

Access for the subframe bolts is easy.

Loosen the nut and remove the bolt.

Removing the nut and bolt separates the strut from the control arm. The sway bar end link needs to be disconnected as well.

Remove the ball joint nut and separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

And there's the culprit responsible for the horrendous noises.

When the ball joint cover boot deteriorates, water and other debris can enter the actual joint and cause accelerated wear. It can also allow the grease contained therein to escape. The noise I was hearing originated because of a lack of lubrication.

The new control arm installs easily into position.

Reinstalling the sway bar end link finishes this side of the car.

With the left side done, I repeated the same procedure for the right side.

This was not a difficult job. But one thing to remember is that I'm in Georgia where we really have no "winter" to speak of. Salt and other anti-skid chemicals are not needed on the roads. I imagine that this job would be much harder in a snow state . . .