Ball Joint Question
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Ball Joint Question
I took my 98 Ranger in to get four new tires and the guy their said that my ball joint on the driver side was shot. He showed me how it moved up and down when he pried on the tire. So I took the truck to another mechanic and he said that my ball joints are fine, he said that they moved a little up and down but no movement at all side to side which he said would indicate a bad ball joint.
what is considered a bad ball joint? Up and down movement or side to side movement?
what is considered a bad ball joint? Up and down movement or side to side movement?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Denver
If I understand your description, I'd call it a bad ball joint. They need to be tight - no motion or play in the joint, or else the front tires wear funny and the truck has a mind of its own regarding where its headed. If you can take the tire by hand and try to turn it left, then right, and if you see the ball joint moving while doing that, I'd get new ball joints.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Ford allows up to 0.030" (that's 30 thousandths, or 3 hundredths of an inch - maybe half the thickness of a dime) of vertical movement before considering it defective.
Ideally you want no play at all in the ball joint.
Realistically you'll see uneven tire wear as a result of any amount of play.
Some vehicles specify horizontal play, some vertical, and some both, however Ford's criteria on these newer rangers is based on vertical play on the lower ball joints, horizontal on the uppers, so most likely the second mechanic was mistaken.
Ideally you want no play at all in the ball joint.
Realistically you'll see uneven tire wear as a result of any amount of play.
Some vehicles specify horizontal play, some vertical, and some both, however Ford's criteria on these newer rangers is based on vertical play on the lower ball joints, horizontal on the uppers, so most likely the second mechanic was mistaken.
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syannuzzi
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Oct 16, 2007 09:54 PM
