They are cranked 4-6 turns been cranked for 13k. I dont know much about balljoints and when they need replaced. Sorry for blurry pics. Let me know the damage

passenger side lower


passenger side upper


Driver side lower


Driver side upper

 

Can't really tell if balljoints are bad from looking at a picture of them.

 

How do you tell when they are going out?

 

Jack up the front end so tires are off the ground. Then hold the tire by putting one hand on top of the tire and the other on the bottom. Pull back and forth and if the tire moves or you hear a clunking, they are bad.

 

If they move that much, they're real bad. The actual method used to check them is to pry between the lower arm down from the frame and if there is any play in the bottom ball you can see it's bad. Same for the top -- pry it up and if there's any play it's bad.

You will have play in them long before you can feel it with the "shake the tire" method -- though that'll still tell you if they're real bad.

 

you need to jack it up from the a-arm, so the spring tension isnt pulling on the baljoint and taking up the slack.

JOSH

 

Yeah, you'll need a pry bar to really get a good idea if they are bad like John said.

 

Are any of the boots ripped??

 

I just got new upper and lower ball joints and a new tie rod on my '99


mine was making all kinds of clunking noise when i would go over bumps or up drive ways etc. Took it to belle tire they did a pretty good job and will look at them for free.

 

That's right, thanks. I forgot that.

 

Yeah, pictures are useless. A pry bar is still the best method. Unless you've been doing some serious offroading though I can't see ball joints going bad at 13k.

 

You are supposed to jack it up and support the vehicle by the lower control arms, then take the tire off and hook your prybar in the frame and lay the paybar across the top of the upper control arm and pry down on the upper balljoint/control arm. Since both balljoint studs point down, you will be able to see play in both ball joints at this time. If you want pics of how this is done since i am not good at being discriptive, i will be more than happy to supply some. The 12 and 6 shaking method of checking ball joints usually doesnt apply to torsion bar suspension unless the ball joints are totally blown out. I would say if you have more than about 3/16'' play then its time to replace them.

 

Thanks for all the info. I'm fixin to set this truck up and get my beater on the road so i thought it would be a good time to replace worn out parts. I should have bought new ball joints when I installed my superlift.

 

how hard is it to install new ball joints. I know you will need a ball joint press but is it a hard install?

 

Kevin , ive never tryed on a 4x4 , but have done a few on 2wd , its not mechanicly complex , they just fight you tooth and nail ...

 

junmp the truck.. if your wheels fall off.. they are bad

 

I had hell when separating the lower control arm from the knuckles. So all you need then is just a BFH and some muscle?

 

Mabey you could come up to kilgore and help since you done it before.