MTC

Recently, while driving on semi-rough roads, I can feel a "clunking"(not so tight) feeling from the front end. I can feel the clunking(for lack of better term) through the steering wheel and through the go pedal. It feels like there is something loose under there. Also my steering doesnt feel like it used too. I have been under there and as far as I can tell, everything is tight.

Ive been reading alot about bad ball joints and did some searching. Could this be my ball joints going bad? I have 25K on the truck.

Is there a way I can test or check to see if I have bad ball joints?

Jmac

Jack up the truck and get the tire about 1.5" off the ground and take a 24" pry bar and put it under the tire and try to lift the tire upward with it. If the tire/wheel assembly moves up and down more than a millimeter or so then you have worn ball joints. When I replaced mine on my 04.5 you could move the assembly 1/4" up and down.

Some others may have some better imput.
Jamie

PS make sure you put 3.5 gorillas on tightening the track bar. It's the bar angled from the frame to the (i think) passenger side of the axle. Keeps the axle from shifting side to side. I put the cheater bar on my 04.5 when I had the lift kit on it and had to tighten the CRAP out of it to get it to quit popping.
Jamie

rjm022

move tire up and down- any play bad ball joint. move the tire side to side- to much play- bad tie rod.

PourinDiesel

You can also eye ball the truck from the front and usually you can spot a tire starting to lean outward from the bottom with a bad upper ball joint.

MTC

Thanks guys, gonna go out and check it now.