How do you know if you need new balljoints?

[lionelkirk2004]

How do you know if you need new balljoints? What are the signs?

[Herbstleyd]

if when you are turning and hearing a "knock" that repeat until you stop turning. it sounds a few like an old cardan

[swalt]

Sometimes it will just "pop" once during a turn. If you are consistently making a left or right turn and always hear the "pop" turning the same way, a ball joint likely has too much play.

[Hoags]

You will hear a clunk or bang or it may even sound like something is loose as you drive over a rough road. your steering may also feel a little loose. You may also have sone bad tire wear.
If you can get a hold of a floor jack you can jack up the car enough to get a pipe or a 2x4 under the tire [leave the car jacked up] pull up on the pipe if the wheel moves up and down as you lift without the suspention moving chances are it's bad[you may even hear a knock as the ball joint seperates]. I would stop and have a pro check it out if you suspect their bad.

[njdjh2o]

You check the ball joint like this, it is very simple.

Being that I'm talking my 2001 Grand Am. My car only have one ball joint (lower ball joint) on both side of the car, which is the load carrying type.

But the process is the same for all vehicles.

You going to need 2 jack stands, a friend and a regular jack.

1. Jack up the front of the car.

2. Place the jack stands under the LOWER CONTROL ARMS ONLY on both side of the car. (this is call unloading the suspension).

3. Lower the car until the car is firmly on the jack stands.

4. Have your friend grab the top (NORTH) and bottom (SOUTH) of the tire and wiggle (not shake) while you are looking at the ball joints, plus look at the tire rods and stuff like that while he/she is wiggling the tire.

If you have any freeplay/wiggle in the ball joints or any other part of your suspension. Then is needs to be replaced. Because your suspension is suppose to be tight.

While you are there check the wheel bearings.

To do that grab the left (WEST) and right (EAST) sides of the tire and if you have any freeplay/wiggle, your bearing needs to be replaced.

But remember some automaker have specs/tolorence for the freeplay.

Since most people don't have a micrometer or know how to do this correctly. I would say any freeplay you should have it checked.

But that how you check your ball joints and wheel bearings.