What does a ball joint feel like when it needs replacing?

I have a 1989 F250 with a 7.3 diesel in it. Periodically it feels like one of the front wheels is "traveling (yes that is a bad term but I do not know the correct one)" from side to side especially on a turn.

Ken

 

Check them the way I do.


take it to a shop like Firestone have then give it the once over then go home and fix it

 

Jack up a wheel, grab the tire at top and bottom and try to rock it up and down. Any movement is a bad ball joint. You probably have a leaf front end? Check the leaf bushings for heavy wear. It's not uncommon for leaf sprung axles to shift an inch or 2 left to right under cornering pressures. A pan hard bar will minimize this shifting.

 

If there is play in the up and down direction, it is not just the ball joints. The wheel bearings will exhibit play in that direction as well if they are toast, but usually is accompanied by low brake pedal pressure for the first cyle of the pedal and then it is back to normal, and howling or squeaking noise. Do the up and down test on the tire, and look to see where the play is coming from. Also check your tie rod ends by having some one rock the wheel back and forth with the tires on the ground and look at them all to see if there is play in them.

 

And as for front leaf spring bushings being worn, why not replace them with a set of poly bushings instead of adapting a pan hard bar to fit? The bushings will be cheaper and a less degree of skill will be needed to install them as apposed to a pan hard bar.

 

I tried to wiggle (top to botttom) both front wheels and they appear solid.

 

how do you replace those bushings on the end s of the tie rods

 

Then do the tie rod check like i mentioned, and leaf spring bushings visually. If the rubber is cracked and chucks missing then they are done. It could also be some play in your steering shaft, or play in the steering box.

 

Hometown Pride, you undo the bolt on the top of the tie rod and remove it using a pickle fork, or thread the nut back on till it is flush with the top of the stud and hammer it loose. Pickle fork is recomended so as not to mess up the threads on the stud. Then pull the bushing off and replace it with the new one and put it all back together.

 

those bushings should be sealed so no greasese gets out and no crap gets in right i hope im on the same page with you here

 

Yes, but if they have been over filled with grease, the grease will come out between the tie rod and the knuckle or the drag link. As long as they are filled with grease, no water or crap should be able to get in. If they have deteriorated and split, they should be replaced.

 

with the engine off steering wheel strait should my steering rods be able to move up and down and if not whats letting it play

1990 F350 4x4 Crew Cab

 

Up and down? do you mean up and down inside the knuckle at the connection or the whole arm moving up and down? The arms will rotate on the ball inside the tie rod end a bit, but if there is up and down movement in the connections, then you should have them replaced, and there is the possibility that being loose they have worn a larger hole in the knuckle, in which case it should be replaced. Try tightening them up and make sure that the cotterpin is installed when you have tightened it, always tighten the nut to make the cotter pin fit, not loosen. Hopefully tightening them will fix them for you. If they have to be replaced, and you feel like doing them, then you must get a wheel alignment after.

 

Thanks
Tdvjensen

 

Like I said...


Take it somewhere and let them give it the once over