Doing what? Incorrectly diagnosing parts? Ignoring the original problem and replacing everything else that may or may not be bad?

Unfortunately the only way I found to really check the ball joints was to have the wheel off, disconnect the tie rod end and move the knuckle back and forth by hand. Then you could feel the stick/release, if you have good joints it will move smoothly through it's whole range of travel. It's rather like a bad u-joint, where it will have a very free spot in the center of it's range of motion.