Ball Joint Question
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
Ball Joint Question
I'm going to replace my ball joints in the near future and I was going through my service manual just looking over things. A question popped into my mind, and I really haven't found the answer. . .
On a SFA truck, what do the ball joints really do besides permit the steering knuckle to swing left to right? I know the ball joints carry the load of the truck, but do they give any up and down movement?? Are they just a replacement for a king pin??
I can see on IFS that the BJ's permit movement up, down, left, and right, but do they on my truck??
On a SFA truck, what do the ball joints really do besides permit the steering knuckle to swing left to right? I know the ball joints carry the load of the truck, but do they give any up and down movement?? Are they just a replacement for a king pin??
I can see on IFS that the BJ's permit movement up, down, left, and right, but do they on my truck??
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
On a solid front axle truck, you are right, they are a replacement of a kingpin and only permit steering knuckle left-right turning. There should be no up/down or in/out movement unless they are worn out.
