Bad ball joint

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Dec 31, 2008 | 08:25 PM

40LUTZAG

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jul 2006

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Bad ball joint

on my 97 4x4 the inner tire on drivers is worn baed. I assume its the ball joint. how do you know if its the upper or lower? dO YOU NEED TO REPLACE BOTH?

Dec 31, 2008 | 08:31 PM

torkum

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 1,550

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From: Mount Juliet, TN

A quick test is to jack the wheel in question up and grab the tire at the top and bottom. Shake the tire and you should feel any extra play at the top or bottom that would indicate a bad upper or lower ball joint problem. Also grab the side and shake to check for play in the tierod.

Dec 31, 2008 | 11:40 PM

mjunk1

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 1,739

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From: Vale, NC

Don't wait on it. I took forever to check mine and the lower was literally in two pieces. Only the weight of the truck was keeping it together. Scary!

Jan 1, 2009 | 09:06 AM

steve(ill)

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Joined: Jul 2005

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the lowers always go first. if you jack it up, you need to jakc under the lower A- frame so the tire is off the ground, but in the normal position. you can not jack under the truck frame and let the tire "hang". get it 2 inches off the ground. put the endge of a 4 ft 2 x 4 under it and pry up and down. look at the lower joint while doing this.