when Ball joints go bad

[thinmints]

i have a 96 xj with 151000 miles on it, im wondering when you can tell when the ball joints are going bad? the problem i am having is that when i am making a turn after sitting at a stand still i can feel the steering wheel start to shimmy ( like death wobble but in the steering wheel) while im turning. it doesn't matter if im turning to the left or right i still get the shimmy in the steering wheel... any help would be great thanks

[89ltd]

usually worn ball joints , you will hear a knock sound when you go over a small bump. Sounds more like faulty track bar or steering stabalizer. While its parked have somebody turn the steering wheel back and forth a little while you look at the front suspension with a flash light for play at the joints.

[JDPascal]

could be worn/tight/dry axle ujoints too.

JD

[MagicRat]

To find play on ball joints.....jack up one front wheel at a time using the axle only. The idea here is to keep the weight of the car on the springs, but leave the wheel about an inch off the ground.

Place a pry bar under the wheel and push the wheel up and down.
You do not need to lift the car, just enough to lift the weight of the wheel, tire and steering knuckle, no more than 100 lbs or so. Have someone else look closely at the ball joint.
If its loose, you will see a TINY bit of movement in the middle of the joint. Its tough to see, because a ball joint is worn out with as little as 1/16 of an inch movement.