tie rod - lower ball joint testing

I've got a 2000 3.8, never replaced either of these components. The van has 126,000 km. I have had to replace the sway bar bushings 2 times due to clunking. I'm wondering if someone can explain the testing procedure to determine the health of the tie rods and lower ball joints. Planned for the spring when it warm up are struts on both sides at the front. I've already done the shocks on the back FWIW.

Any tips or info would be appreciated.

Piper

I am not at all trained for this, and prefer to change these items before it becomes obvious to me.
So....unless one is in the business.....I would recommend taking the vehicle to a good shop to have the front end checked out.

Are you just curious or are you suspicious that you have a problem? What kind of symtoms are you having? Wiswind has a point about having an alignment shop do it, since when you change any tie rod parts, the alignment should be checked. So if you aren't up for the task then you may as well let them do it. To check for these things you need to jack it up with weight still bearing on the opposite wheel and securing the steering wheel so it won't move. You will need a second person to grab and rock the tire wheel you feel the component for movement if it is not obvious. Grabbing the tire on the left and right and rock it side to side will check for play in the steering tie rod ends. If you find play, you will have to determine if the inner or the outer tie rod end is worn. You will have to put your finger/hand on the outer tie rod and the knuckle next to the tie rod ball joint to feel for play between the two. If you can't detect any, feel for play on the inner tie rod at the steering rack bellows. It is possible to have both worn, but I have only had one go at a time. To check the lower ball joint, you grab the top and bottom of the tire and rock it in and out. You should check at the ball joint if there is movement putting your finger jammed between the ball joint and the knuckle. Sometimes you will detect slight movement that is not steering or the lower ball joint but the bearings. You can check this by jamming your fingers between the cvjoint and the steering knuckle assembly where it enters the back side of the knuckle while the tire is rocked left to right and top to bottom. If you are not sure you have any movement for these tests, rotate the tire and retest. If it seems to go away, then after rocking it a lot you can feel movement again, then you have a little bit of play in your bearings. If you don't have a manual, I suggest you get one, but as I look at mine, it doesn't contain the detail like I just gave you on this.

Thanks for your reply tripletdaddy. I don't have any problems currently. I just don't like surprises. My windstar is our family van which my wife drives ~90% of the time so I don't get the daily road test as she does. I hate having a shop do work that I can do assuming that I know about it. My question was mainly directed from a preventative maintenance point of view. You have confirmed the method I've used to test the tie rod, ball joints. I'm planning on doing the struts this spring so I thought it'd be wise to assess the tie rods/balls at the same time. I think, if they are in need of repairs, that I'd do the struts, balls, tie rods at the same time and then take it to the shop for an alignment. That way it's all new and I won't be heading back for another alignment 6 months later.

Piper

You are thinking along the same lines as I do.
I take mine in once a year for a "safety check" which includes a good shakedown of the front end.
A good alignment will also include this.
A lot of people just keep driving their vehicle until something goes wrong.
The problem is that they could prevent a lot of the problems that they end up with.
Another problem.....such as wear in the front end, the problem creeps up gradually.......so that you don't notice it until it is really bad......or often....when your tire wear indicates a problem.
It really pays to have a honest local shop that you can count on.