Ball Joint Inspection

Ball Joint Inspection
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Prior to performing any inspection of the ball joints, inspect the front wheel bearings.





3. Position a safety stand beneath the front suspension lower arm to be tested.





4. While an assistant pries upward on the bottom of the tire, measure the relative movement between the lower spindle arm and the front suspension lower arm ball joint. Any movement at or exceeding the specification indicates a worn or damaged lower ball joint. Install a new ball joint as necessary.
5. While an assistant pries upward on the bottom of the tire, measure the relative movement between the upper spindle arm and the front suspension upper ball joint. Movement at or exceeding the specification indicates a worn or damaged upper ball joint. Install a new upper ball joint as necessary.