ball joints
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ball joints
On my 99 f-250 SD 4x4 the front wheels are attached to the wheel hub if I am correct? The hub may also be called a spindle? If the first two questions are correct, at the top and bottom of each spindle are ball joints. If I am still correct, when I raise the wheel assembly off the ground with a jack, grab the tire top and bottom should I be able to move the tire/wheel in and out from top to bottom? And if I can is that a problem? I have movement on both sides of the truck. While making the wheel move I can look at what I beleive is the top ball joint and can see the movement at that point. Whats up? Could this be the cause of my rumble in the posting from earlier today? Thanks again, Sleepe
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,438
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From: IN FRONT OF YOU
ball joints
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Nov-02 AT 06:48 PM (EST)]>On my 99 f-250 SD 4x4 the front wheels are attached to the
>wheel hub if I am correct? The hub may also be called a
>spindle?
Wheels are bolted to hubs, hubs slide on to spindles bolt to the "knuckle"
at the top
>and bottom of each spindle are ball joints.
Yes , they hold the whole assemble on to the axle
If I am still
>correct, when I raise the wheel assembly off the ground with
>a jack, grab the tire top and bottom should I be able to
>move the tire/wheel in and out from top to bottom?
NO
And if I
>can is that a problem? I have movement on both sides of the
>truck. While making the wheel move I can look at what I
>beleive is the top ball joint and can see the movement at
>that point. Whats up? Could this be the cause of my rumble
>in the posting from earlier today?
Could be, Loose balljoints cause your wheels to flutter or move in and out. (caster/camber)
You will feel it in the steering wheel as a vibration or shimmy
>wheel hub if I am correct? The hub may also be called a
>spindle?
Wheels are bolted to hubs, hubs slide on to spindles bolt to the "knuckle"
at the top
>and bottom of each spindle are ball joints.
Yes , they hold the whole assemble on to the axle
If I am still
>correct, when I raise the wheel assembly off the ground with
>a jack, grab the tire top and bottom should I be able to
>move the tire/wheel in and out from top to bottom?
NO
And if I
>can is that a problem? I have movement on both sides of the
>truck. While making the wheel move I can look at what I
>beleive is the top ball joint and can see the movement at
>that point. Whats up? Could this be the cause of my rumble
>in the posting from earlier today?
Could be, Loose balljoints cause your wheels to flutter or move in and out. (caster/camber)
You will feel it in the steering wheel as a vibration or shimmy
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Hibbing, MN
ball joints
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Nov-02 AT 06:50 PM (EST)]>On my 99 f-250 SD 4x4 the front wheels are attached to the
>wheel hub if I am correct? The hub may also be called a
>spindle? If the first two questions are correct, at the top
>and bottom of each spindle are ball joints. If I am still
>correct, when I raise the wheel assembly off the ground with
>a jack, grab the tire top and bottom should I be able to
>move the tire/wheel in and out from top to bottom? And if I
>can is that a problem? I have movement on both sides of the
>truck. While making the wheel move I can look at what I
>beleive is the top ball joint and can see the movement at
>that point. Whats up? Could this be the cause of my rumble
>in the posting from earlier today? Thanks again, Sleepe
You should have a little movement, very little. When jacking the tire off the ground, using a tire iron or something like it, push up and down and wedge the wheel in and out. If you see movement up top the balljoint is more than likely bad, again there should be just a tiny bit of movement. You also have wheel bearings that will show a little bit of movement, again very litlle. With both points moving, ball joints and wheel bearings you should have maybe an 1/8th inch or so of movement (@ the tire). If clunking can be heard, check the ball joints, if there is a lot of movement with no noise check the wheel bearings. As for the rumble, grumble kick and grown, I don't think this is a ball joint problem. Sounds more like wheel bearings. These are the places I would look first. I'm sure some one else will chime in with more info, but this is a start.
Looks like Yeti and I were answering at the same time, one more thing tho... If the ball joints are bad your truck is probably wandering on the road.
>wheel hub if I am correct? The hub may also be called a
>spindle? If the first two questions are correct, at the top
>and bottom of each spindle are ball joints. If I am still
>correct, when I raise the wheel assembly off the ground with
>a jack, grab the tire top and bottom should I be able to
>move the tire/wheel in and out from top to bottom? And if I
>can is that a problem? I have movement on both sides of the
>truck. While making the wheel move I can look at what I
>beleive is the top ball joint and can see the movement at
>that point. Whats up? Could this be the cause of my rumble
>in the posting from earlier today? Thanks again, Sleepe
You should have a little movement, very little. When jacking the tire off the ground, using a tire iron or something like it, push up and down and wedge the wheel in and out. If you see movement up top the balljoint is more than likely bad, again there should be just a tiny bit of movement. You also have wheel bearings that will show a little bit of movement, again very litlle. With both points moving, ball joints and wheel bearings you should have maybe an 1/8th inch or so of movement (@ the tire). If clunking can be heard, check the ball joints, if there is a lot of movement with no noise check the wheel bearings. As for the rumble, grumble kick and grown, I don't think this is a ball joint problem. Sounds more like wheel bearings. These are the places I would look first. I'm sure some one else will chime in with more info, but this is a start.
Looks like Yeti and I were answering at the same time, one more thing tho... If the ball joints are bad your truck is probably wandering on the road.
