How does one tell when ball joints (as in upper and lower BJ's on the knuckle) have gone to the great ball joint place in the sky? thankyaverymuch

 

If they're really sqeaky. Look at the boot, if it's torn anywhere then the grease is most likely all gone. I let mine get so bad before I changed them that the boot was almost gone, and the ball and socket were rusty.

 

I would like to know this as well. do they clunck at all or just squeak?

 

jack it up and tug and push on the bottom and top of the tire to see if there is any play in them

 

i thought that was for wheel bearings, not ball joints......


oh and josh, i wonder why you might be so interested in this.

 

yup for both

 

Push on the component that the ball joint is mounted on, it it has any play you should feel it. If you find play, replace the joint.

 

if your dust seal is gone then get it the **** outta there, grease will soon enough be replaced with salt/sand, then it's fucked

 

How difficult is it to replace a ball joint yourself?



[Modified by joseph h, 2:38 PM 12/6/2002]

 

let us be accurate on whether we are giving advice on the ball joints or the CV joints, totally different.

 

upper ball joint no problem, bottom ball joint if you have a hydrolic press, the proper tools and a lot of patients you get it out, it took me 2 days and 4 big craftsman vises (think god for the warrenty) and i did it

 

sorry I should of clarified, to replace my upper ball joint I'm just replacing the entire upper A-arm.

I was wondering about the lower one. Form what you say it sounds like a royal pain in the ***, I think I'll just removed my steering knuckle and take it somewhere to get a new ball joint.

thanks

 

and i was lost there for a minute. drivetrain or suspension??? hhhmmm