Hi all, going to look at an '03 with 91k miles on it tomorrow, so, auto, build date feb 03, still unsure of which tranny it will be, laramie pkg, 4x4, etc...anyway, I've read a lot about ball joints on these things in here, so when I go to look at it tomorrow, what's the best way to tell if the ball joints may be going out? Where will I notice looseness if there is any? Want as much ammo as I can get before I go to look at it. Thanks!

Brian

 

Short of jacking up one side and checking for play.

You can eyeball the wheel in question and see its leaning out on the bottom side of the tire/wheel. This is usually a good indication. Harder to tell on stock wheel/tire trucks though.

 

You have to jack it up and put a bar under the tire and lift up. You will see them move if they are bad. More than likely they will be bad. Not cheap to fix either

 

Actually the specification is up to .090 of play. **** near an 1/8 inch!

Now that play eventually translates to looseness at the steering wheel but the "any play is bad" is how Firestone stores stay in business.

 

Most have "up/down" movement, it's the lateral movement you want to check. Calls for putting a dial indicator on the axle and measuring the movement of the steering knuckle.

 

The upper is the "following" ball joint. It is checked for lateral movement by pushing in and out at the top of the tire. Lateral movement shouldn't exceed .060"

The lower is the loaded joint and is checked for up and down movement. If there is lateral movement in the lower joint it is about to fail.