Front End Checks

What checks can I do at home to test the frontend componants?? I know to rock the wheel top to bottom to check the bearings. What about tie rods, ball joints etc??? Thanks!

side to side rocking of thire while it is off the ground will test play in the steering assembly.

Watch the tie rods etc while turning the wheels with you hands on the tires.

You have to jack the front end up from under lower control arm. If you jack it up from frame the spring or torsion bar will load ball joints with pressure and you will not see the play. When you have front end off ground take tire from 12 & 6 oclock position and shake. Then grab tire at 10 & 5....Then 2 & 7 oclock position. Shake and watch play at upper and lower ball joints. Now at 3 & 9 position watch tie rods ends, pitman arm and idler arm for movement. Take your hand at all theses jionts and try to move them up and down. Movement shows wear. With this kind of wear the front end will have to much play for alignment. And yes you will also see if wheel bearging is bad but you will most of time have roaring noise with wheel beargings.

You have to jack the front end up from under lower control arm. If you jack it up from frame the spring or torsion bar will load ball joints with pressure and you will not see the play. When you have front end off ground take tire from 12 & 6 oclock position and shake. Then grab tire at 10 & 5....Then 2 & 7 oclock position. Shake and watch play at upper and lower ball joints. Now at 3 & 9 position watch tie rods ends, pitman arm and idler arm for movement. Take your hand at all theses jionts and try to move them up and down. Movement shows wear. With this kind of wear the front end will have to much play for alignment. And yes you will also see if wheel bearging is bad but you will most of time have roaring noise with wheel beargings.


Thanks - I was looking for specifics. I don't have time or $$ to see mechanics for every little thing. This info is very usefull to us DIYer's especially with the frontend probs the Blazers have. These kind of detailed posts would make great stickys. Otherwise people have to search tons of old posts in hopes of finding an answer.

These kind of detailed posts would make great stickys. Otherwise people have to search tons of old posts in hopes of finding an answer.

Not so. I found this thread by using the "Search" function on the top right corner of the forum's main page in just 5 seconds. Proof that searching works! :evillol:

Not so. I found this thread by using the "Search" function on the top right corner of the forum's main page in just 5 seconds. Proof that searching works! :evillol:

I found it because it was at the top of page 1. Proof that laziness works! :lol:

You have to jack the front end up from under lower control arm. If you jack it up from frame the spring or torsion bar will load ball joints with pressure and you will not see the play. When you have front end off ground take tire from 12 & 6 oclock position and shake. Then grab tire at 10 & 5....Then 2 & 7 oclock position. Shake and watch play at upper and lower ball joints. Now at 3 & 9 position watch tie rods ends, pitman arm and idler arm for movement. Take your hand at all theses jionts and try to move them up and down. Movement shows wear. With this kind of wear the front end will have to much play for alignment. And yes you will also see if wheel bearging is bad but you will most of time have roaring noise with wheel beargings.

Excellent post! :thumbsup:

You have to jack the front end up from under lower control arm. If you jack it up from frame the spring or torsion bar will load ball joints with pressure and you will not see the play. When you have front end off ground take tire from 12 & 6 oclock position and shake. Then grab tire at 10 & 5....Then 2 & 7 oclock position. Shake and watch play at upper and lower ball joints. Now at 3 & 9 position watch tie rods ends, pitman arm and idler arm for movement. Take your hand at all theses jionts and try to move them up and down. Movement shows wear. With this kind of wear the front end will have to much play for alignment. And yes you will also see if wheel bearging is bad but you will most of time have roaring noise with wheel beargings.


Yes sir..this is exactly how they diagnoised my lower ball joints and pitman arm issue....jacked the car up by the frame, then lowered just enough with jack stands in place on the lower control arms to relieve pressure....great tip ! :ylsuper:

Not so. I found this thread by using the "Search" function on the top right corner of the forum's main page in just 5 seconds. Proof that searching works! :evillol:



Yes searching works but it can take a lot of time going post to post to find the answers needed. Also some of us don't live in areas that have hi-speed internet and it takes even longer. My point was that a single post that covers an entire subject would be great for future searchers.

What is the easiest way to do it on a Arm style hoist? ( has 4 arms that swing under the car)

Better to use floor jack under lower control arm. Jack up wheel off the ground and check for play.