What do you feel when driving with bad ball joints and what
tools do you need to change them
Thanks

 

I don't think you will feel anything, when mine went bad, I didn't know it until I took the car to get the front end lined up. One way you can tell is to jack up the front end and try to move the wheels, kinda like trying to turn the with the steering locked. They shouldn't move at all. If they move very easily, then the ball joints are bad. They won't move much, just a fraction of an inch. This is how the guy at the shop showed me when mine were bad, and when I took them off, sure enough, I could move the joints around with my hand. As for tools, I know you will need a ball joint installer to make the job a lot easier. I rented one from the auto parts store. It's like a big C clamp with different attachments.

 

I didn't know mine were bad, until I replaced my tie rods and went to have it aligned and the guy there showed me.(you could move the tire up and down a little)

It wasn't a bad job at all though, didn't even need to compress the coil springs. The only thing I needed other than basic handtools was a floor jack and a ball joint press.

 

Took more time for me to go and get the ball joint press and return it to Autozone,than it did to actually press the old ones out, and press the new ones in...

 

how did you get that auto-zone press to work.
I think the c clamp is too small..... doesn't work for me.

 

could you use a bench vice to press in and out the balljoints?
Thanks

 

Well, here's something I gotta do! I got an alignment in Dec., and was informed of haveing "bad ball joints". Whatever. They really dont seem to affect anything - althouugh I am sure they hurt tire wear, and cornering ability.
How can you tell? Well, ya gotta kinda wiggle the tire/wheel back and forth - it'll be loose. Also, I *think*...
When I take a turn, and the suspension has to work (like turning outta my driveway or something), I'll normally hear a, maybe a clunking sound. Since I checked otu all my components, the nly thing that it could be is the ball joints!

Beefy89, I am glad to hear its easy! Knock on wood - wonder what I'll have to end up doin in addition...