It's sad how much I've forgotten not being in the shop for over 15 years. I noticed some seepage from my axle tubes so I have seals to do when it warms up again but upon lowering the truck to the ground I noticed the upper ball joints shifted inward about 1/8". I jacked it back up again and gave em hell trying to get movement in any direction and nothing, rock solid. Lowered it down again and both sides did the same thing, the upper ball/knuckle moves straight inward about 1/8". The lower ball is solid and I don't have any bad highway manners since the last stint of front end work. Is this movement normal? I would think if the ***** were failing I would be able to move them with my handy dandy 4' prybar at least that's what I remember when I was still running the shop.

 

Well, went out and checked the ball joints on all 5 of my Scout's and also my plow truck and not one of them moves like they do on the Ram. This front end work is getting real old. Honestly if I could get out of it what I have into it I'd be driving an IH again. I have had more headache's and spent more money in 2 years on this truck than I did in 10 years on all 5 of the Scout's combined.

 

I understand from a previous post that some movement, like an 1/8th inch, is within specs. Honestly, if you can't get movement in the wheel when it is jacked up and the weight is off, and you jerk at 12 and 6 on the tire, then you should just keep driving on it. I just replaced mine, but I had 1/4" movement in both, and could feel it when jacked up.

 

In 96, they didn't have an allowable spec for movement. If it was mine, I would wait until there is some degree of consistent measureable play before I changed them. Having said that, if you are ripping it apart to do seals, you may want to consider throwing in 4 new ball joints at the same time.

I really can't complain about the front end on my 96. It's been all original, with the exception of one track bar, until just recently I had to replace a tie rod end. Hope your luck improves.