Fishbait

I have been told two different ways to check the ball joints and two mechanics have told me different stories....one says they are fine.........he checked by jacking the front end up and pulling side to side and top to bottom on the tire looking for play...no play was found.

The other mechanic jacked up one side till the tire was off the ground 1 1/2" and put a pry bar under the tire to see if there was any up and down play. There was 3/32nds of up and down movement when he did this, in which he said they need replaced.

PLEASE give me your opinions and adviceo how to check balljoints and front bearings....ALSO...I have a rubbing sound When slowly turning sharply that is not because of my tires. If the sealed bearings are going bad shouldn't there be some play in the tire by the side to side or top to bottom shake test??

I have a hunt to go to in Iowa in December and in the first week of November I want to go to southwest TX for a hunt, but want Besse running properly?

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR TIME!!

DZLPWR

I found mine were bad by shaking the tire top bottom. They were shot so it was pretty obvious. I would think that you can tell the bearing is bad by doing the same, but if your ball joints are shot it would be hard to distinguish between the two being bad. There must be some other method for the bearings.

INJECTOR JACK

I check the ball joints or king pins with both methods. That way you check side to side and up and down movement. change em
out if there is movement.

RickCJ

The other mechanic jacked up one side till the tire was off the ground 1 1/2" and put a pry bar under the tire to see if there was any up and down play. There was 3/32nds of up and down movement when he did this, in which he said they need replaced.


This is the proper way to check them, too heavy to do by hand. Replace if any up/down movement.

Lakemann

RickCJ is correct.That method is the ONLY way to check for ball joint wear.

Fishcop

Just had mine replaced........we used the pry bar method and there was plenty of movement! My new ball joint have grease fittings.

Fishbait

Is this hard to do by yourself is you rent a ball joint press?

BigBlue

I just had mine replaced by the dealer and now I have a pop in my front end. It happens when I turn and when I first back out of the driveway. Is there a way to check and see if the nuts on them are tight or what?

DZLPWR

Fish bait: You can do it yourself with a press. Do a search on ball joints for loads of info on the procedure.

Bigblue: I think you can check the upper nuts, but the lower nuts will be hard to get to because they are right under the knucle as you can see. Maybe a big slim wrench could be worked in to check them?

cumminsdriver635

We just bought a 20ton press from harbor freight, and did one of mine Monday night. It was hard to get it lined up to get to the bottom ball joint to press it out because you have to tilt it sideways, and it was a pain in the butt to press out, but getting it in was easy, and to get the knuckle off so you can press them out, just take off both nuts and beat the heck out of it till it comes out .Good luck

Eric

kd460

Best money I ever spent ($29.00 on sale normally $39.00) from Harbor Frieght is the C clamp type ball joint press. Saves you alot of work. Also good for U joints, etc.

I have a press also but that would require removal of the A arm, coil spring, etc. The C clamp saves you from all of that.

Also need a pickle fork, but I don't remember the size. Harbor has those as well with the interchangable heads (set of 3 heads) for $10.00.

Not that tough to do, Moog have a good rep, TRW as well. Get them with the lifetime warranty and the grease fittings. I think pavement sucks has a good right up, heres the link.Kevin

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/balljoint.php