ball joints

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 16, 2004 | 05:30 PM

Broncobigtire

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 59

Likes: 0

ball joints

How would one go about seeing if they were bad. Dont really want to pay a shop tons of $$$ if I can do it at my garage. P.S. friend of parents is letting me use his car lift and garage!! Thanks.

Mar 16, 2004 | 06:10 PM

fishin machine

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 184

Likes: 0

From: Va Beach

Jack one side of the front end up and grab the tire. Try tilting it up/down and right/left. You will know if there bad. I just did mine couple months ago and I could actually see the joints move.

Mar 16, 2004 | 07:24 PM

RLKBOB

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 281

Likes: 1

From: Petersburg, MI

Excessive movement when holding the tire at 12 and 6 and pushing in at the top and bottom means bad ball joints. At 9 and 3 it means TREs.

Mar 16, 2004 | 09:53 PM

91BroncoEB

New User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 21

Likes: 0

From: Chicora

yeah, what they said. If it tilts back and forth, they will need changed. 4 in all, and you will also have to get it alligned afterwards.

Mar 17, 2004 | 08:11 PM

jeep8589

Mountain Pass

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 181

Likes: 0

From: covington

what they said is fairly accurate with the exception of one thing. Loose bearings will also allow play in the tire. This will occur when you wiggle it in any direction. If there is play just watch the suspension parts to see what is moving.

Mar 19, 2004 | 05:35 PM

BillyBob69

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 7,406

Likes: 52

From: Wheatland, Mo

Or back the truck up about 10 ft..park it...then go to the frant and look at the tires. If it loks like they are trying to do the splits, then it could be the ball joints. or bearings.

Mar 19, 2004 | 07:43 PM

buckinbronco'95

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 129

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally posted by BillyBob69
Or back the truck up about 10 ft..park it...then go to the frant and look at the tires. If it loks like they are trying to do the splits, then it could be the ball joints. or bearings.

couldnt that mean you need an alignment wicked bad?