how do you know when your Ball Joints are bad?

[Sean Baltagi]

how do you know when your ball joints are bad?.... sorry to seem dumb, but how does the ball joints effect the truck?...

thanks

Sean

 

[Scott C]

if you jack up the truck (the front that is) and you can hold the wheel at noon and 6 and move the wheel then your ball joints are bad, there should be no movement.

 

[Sean Baltagi]

so basically, your stearing wheel SHOULD NOT move while the truck is jacked up in the front?.... if so, then my ball joints are bad

 

[Ryan Y]

be sure you aren't at 9 and 3... you should have your hands on top and bottom, and you should feel play, like the wheel is loose, not that you can turn the steering wheel... does this make sense?

 

[Darrick Johnson]

When the ball joints were going out on 01 i notice a slight noise from the front and had them checked out. The previous poster said it right i used a crow bar and there should be no play when you lift up on it before the shock hits. The service station $700 to fix it and I replaced them my self for $375 and 3 hrs of time.

 

[Scott C]

Sorry Sean, the wheel, NOT the steering wheel.

 

[Sean Baltagi]

now i'm really confused!.....

hold the wheel at noon and 6 and move the wheel then your ball joints are bad, there should be no movement.

and then i read

you should have your hands on top and bottom, and you should feel play, like the wheel is loose,

 

[Sean Baltagi]

OOOOOOOOooOoo GOT IT.... the wheel, not the stearing wheel! lol

 

[Ryan Y]

noon is top...(like the top end of a clock) ... and 6 is bottom (like the bottom end of a clock) rather than 9 oclock on the left and 3 oclock on the right....:wacko:

 

[Sean Baltagi]

i understand that part Ryan... let me clarify, if they are bad, i should feel play. if they are good, i should feel NO PLAY in the wheel....

 

[Scott C]

correct.

Movement = bad

 

[EddieS'04]

Sean....be sure to put your jack under the lower control arm....jack the tire off the ground just enough to do the test....dont jack it up by the frame, or you wont get a good test...

 

[Tommy VanNess]

Check your tires. I just replaced my ball joints and upper control arms last month. Tell-tale sign is wear on the inside of your tires. Good luck. I hope it isn't too expensive. (mine was)



Tommy

 

[Travis Munday]

First jack the truck up by the frame and support it with a jack stand, THEN jack up the lower control arm. You don't want your hand under the tire should the jack slip or otherwise fail and cause the truck to fall on your hand.